The Customs and Excise Department today (February 27) reminded members of the public and persons departing Hong Kong to observe the new regulation effective from March 1, 2013, concerning the export from Hong Kong of powdered formula for infants and children under 36 months (powdered formula).
The reminder came after two cases heard at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today. A man pleaded guilty today at the courts for suspected illegal exporting of excessive powdered formula from Hong Kong during the period of a court suspension order, contravening the Import and Export (General)(Amendment) Regulation 2013. The man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment of five weeks.
In the other case, a man was fined $18,000 at the courts for illegal exporting of excessive powdered formula. All the powdered formula involved in both cases was confiscated.
Customs officers yesterday (February 26) intercepted a 59-year-old local man departing Hong Kong at the departure hall of Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and found in his baggage eight cans of powdered formula with a total net weight of 7.2 kilograms, exceeding the limit of 1.8kg. The man, who had two previous conviction records for the same offence, was sentenced by court on February 20 to a fine of $4,800 and 21 days' imprisonment suspended for one year. He was suspected of infringing the regulation again within the period of a court suspension order and was sentenced by court today to five weeks' imprisonment.
In the other case, a 25-year-old male passenger departing Hong Kong at the departure hall of Lo Wu Control Point yesterday was found to be in possession of 46 boxes of powdered formula with a total weight of 36.8kg, exceeding the limit of 1.8kg, but failed to produce a valid permit. He was fined $18,000 by the court.
The Import and Export (General)(Amendment) Regulation 2013 prohibits the unlicensed export of powdered formula, including milk powder and soya milk powder, for infants and children under 36 months. To allow a reasonable quantity for personal use, the prohibition does not apply to powdered formula not exceeding 1.8kg in total net weight that is exported in the accompanied personal baggage of a person leaving Hong Kong. However, the person must be aged 16 or above and must not have left Hong Kong in the last 24 hours.
Offenders may face a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years upon conviction.
Ends/Thursday, February 27 2014