About 25 500 kilograms of frozen poultry, including frozen ducks, frozen geese, and frozen chickens were seized at the Man Kam To Control Point in a joint operation conducted by the Customs and Excise Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department this morning (September 14).
About 8.30am, Customs officers intercepted and searched a refrigerated container truck entering Hong Kong from Shenzhen, declared to be carrying frozen cut pork. As a result, they found a total of 25 506 kilograms of unmanifested frozen poultry, including 18 308 kilograms of frozen ducks, 6 622 kilograms of frozen geese, and 576 kilograms of frozen chickens, worth about $350,000.
They also arrested a 56-year-old driver in connection with the case. He will later be charged with "importing unmanifested cargo" under the Import and Export Ordinance; and "importation of poultry without an official certificate" under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations.
Upon examination, those frozen poultry were found by FEHD officers unfit for consumption and would later be disposed.
Any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargo under the Import and Export Ordinance is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment.
Under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, it is an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat and poultry without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Ends/Tuesday, September 14, 2004