In the past four days from January 31 to February 3, Hong Kong Customs mounted joint operations with Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department at all land and sea control points to curb the smuggling of live poultry and poultry meat from the Mainland.

Enforcement actions on examining imported cargoes and baggage were stepped up. As a result, 211 kg of fresh chicken, 7kg of fresh duck and 3.5kg of fresh goose were seized.

No arrest has been made so far.

"To combat the smuggling of poultry meat from the Mainland due to Lunar New Year, Customs officers of the Control Points Command conducted a series of operations and made strategic deployment to curb the inflow of such illicit meat," a spokesman for Customs and Excise Department said today (February 4).

"Members of the public are reminded to buy poultry meat from licensed stores," he added.

Ends/Friday, February 4, 2005