Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 6) seized about 8 700 kilograms of suspected Thailand rosewood from a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. The estimated market value of the seizure was about $1.3 million.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a container arriving in Hong Kong from Cambodia. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the suspected Thailand rosewood in the container.

     The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation. 

     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 its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 6) seized about 8 700 kilograms of suspected Thailand rosewood from a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. The estimated market value of the seizure was about $1.3 million.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a container arriving in Hong Kong from Cambodia. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the suspected Thailand rosewood in the container.

     The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation. 

     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 its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting tomorrow (July 8).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.
     

     Hong Kong Ladies Dynamic Association Limited has been issued a Public Subscription Permit to hold a territory-wide flag sale from 7am to 12.30pm today (July 7), a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said. 

     For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the Charitable Fund-raising Control Team at 2832 4311 during office hours. Information on the flag days of the month is available at the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew). Permits for flag days containing contact information of the flag-selling organisations and information on the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_recentlyap). For enquiries about the detailed flag-selling arrangements, please contact the individual flag-selling organisations.

     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities covered by the Public Subscription Permit issued by the SWD have also been uploaded to the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/fundraising).

     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Lok Ma Chau this morning (July 6) in which two men, aged 50 and 42, died.

     At about 8.58 am, the 42-year-old man got on a light goods vehicle (LGV) on an unnamed road near Tun Yu Road without authorization of the vehicle owner. He drove along the road and reportedly knocked down a stone hut.

     Sustaining serious injuries, the 50-year-old man who was staying inside the stone hut and the 42-year-old male driver were rushed to the North District Hospital and Pok Oi Hospital respectively in unconscious state. The 50-year-old man was certified dead at 9.57am and the male driver was certified dead at 10.10am.

     After initial investigation, the case is classified as pending taking conveyance without authority and dangerous driving causing death.

     Investigation by the District Crime Squad of Border District is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 4042.