Hong Kong Customs today (May 15) seized about 630 kilograms of suspected pangolin scales and 2 660kg of suspected smuggled mercury from a container with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million at the Tsing Yi Customs Cargo Examination Compound. 

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 40-foot container declared to contain plastic scrap arriving in Hong Kong from Indonesia. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the suspected pangolin scales and mercury in the container. 

     Investigation is ongoing. 

     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. 

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for ten years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, visited Hangzhou today (May 15), meeting officials of the Government of Zhejiang Province and Hong Kong people doing business in Zhejiang. He also visited emerging and innovative enterprises there.

     In the morning, he visited We Doctor Group and had a meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Group, Mr Jerry Liao. We Doctor Group provides online medical services in the Mainland through a platform connecting hospitals, doctors and patients.

     He then had lunch with Hong Kong business people and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Zhejiang Province to learn more about the opportunities and challenges in doing business there. He also updated them on the latest economic situation of Hong Kong.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited Alibaba Group and was briefed on the development of the Group’s electronic payment services and online logistics platform in Hong Kong. He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed in developing innovation and technology as the new engine of economic growth, and attaches great importance to the collaboration with the Mainland in innovation and technology development. 

     In the evening, Mr Chan called on the Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Mr Zhu Congjiu. Noting the rapid development of Zhejiang Province, particularly in innovation and technology and e-commerce, Mr Chan remarked that Hong Kong can draw valuable lessons from Zhejiang's successful experience. In light of the close economic and trade ties between both places, Mr Chan said he hoped that Hong Kong and Zhejiang can step up co-operation on innovation and technology, financial services, logistics and other areas.

     Tomorrow (May 16), Mr Chan will officiate at the opening ceremony of "Smart Hong Kong, Hangzhou" and witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hangzhou Municipal Government.

     He will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.

          

     A man who conducted illegal earthwork activities and dumping of construction waste at the conservation area of Nam Sang Wai Outline Zoning Plan in Tai Sang Wai, Yuen Long, which is a government land, was fined a total of $28,000 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 15) for contravening the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).
      
     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that the department received a report last October from a member of the public about illegal pond-filling activities at the conservation area in Tai Sang Wai, Yuen Long. EPD officers conducted a blitz inspection and intercepted a truck which was dumping rubble and debris at the above site, while an excavator was also conducting levelling works by pushing the rubble and debris at the fish pond area. These activities were suspected to have violated the WDO and the EIAO. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the person who was intercepted on-site.
      
     The spokesman said that the area concerned belongs to a conservation area under the Nam Sang Wai Outline Zoning Plan, which aims to preserve the ecological value and functions of existing fish ponds in the area. According to the EIAO, it is an offence to conduct earthworks at a conservation area without an environmental permit issued by the EPD. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and six months' imprisonment. According to the WDO, any person who deposits waste on government land illegally is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment on first conviction.

  

     The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, visited Southern District today (May 15) to exchange views on district matters with local District Council members and visit the facilities of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Media 21 (M21). The Under Secretary for Development, Mr Liu Chun-san, also joined the visit.
 
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Southern District Council, Mr Chu Ching-hong, and the District Officer (Southern), Mrs Dorothy Ma, Mr Wong began his visit by meeting members of the Southern District Council to learn about the latest developments and needs of the district, and listen to members' views on the work of the Government.
 
     Mr Wong then visited M21, a multimedia production platform for youths established by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, to learn about its facilities and development direction. Equipped with a wide range of media facilities such as online television and radio studios that are available for rent, M21 also organises various multimedia production courses to nurture talents in the field. Mr Wong chatted with M21's members to understand their studies and aspirations, and encouraged them to put their learning to good use and unleash their potential.

      

     Two men and one woman were fined from $6,000 to $10,500 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (May 15) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in October last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).

     During the investigation in one of the clubs on Yee Wo Street, the OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as member. Also, the club was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawings and the number of people at the club during the inspection exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 3, 6 and 19 of the CoC were breached.

     The other club on Yee Wo Street also served non-members. The staff of the club failed to show a copy of the certificate of the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request as well. Conditions 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.

     The men and woman, being the CoC holder and the managers of the clubs, were charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) or section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.