Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled dried shark fins, dried sea cucumbers and proprietary Chinese medicine with ingredients of suspected scheduled Gastrodia Elata
Hong Kong Customs on October 10 seized about 460 kilograms of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, 200kg of suspected scheduled dried sea cucumbers and 3 300 boxes of proprietary Chinese medicine with ingredients of suspected scheduled Gastrodia Elata, with a total estimated market value of about $2.3 million, at Hong Kong International Airport.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected an air consignment, declared as carrying household goods and arriving in Hong Kong from Indonesia, on that day. Upon inspection, the batch of dried shark fins, sea cucumbers and proprietary Chinese medicine suspected to be scheduled under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Ordinance) (Cap. 586), was found inside 33 carton boxes.
The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for follow-up action.
Under the Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited. For licensing requirements for the species listed on different appendices, members of the public may visit the website: www.cites.hk. For enquiries, please contact the AFCD through email (hk_cites@afcd.gov.hk) or call 1823.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled dried shark fins, dried sea cucumbers and proprietary Chinese medicine with ingredients of suspected scheduled Gastrodia Elata Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled dried shark fins, dried sea cucumbers and proprietary Chinese medicine with ingredients of suspected scheduled Gastrodia Elata Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled dried shark fins, dried sea cucumbers and proprietary Chinese medicine with ingredients of suspected scheduled Gastrodia Elata Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
TD urges public and motorists returning to Hong Kong to travel outside peak periods as far as possible
The Transport Department (TD) today (October 12) urged members of the public who drive their private cars to and from the Mainland/Macao to note that it is anticipated more inbound cross boundary vehicles will travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) tomorrow (October 13). Members of the public are advised to plan their journeys ahead and travel outside peak periods as far as possible in response to the inbound travel peak after Chung Yeung Festival.
The public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile application to access the snapshots of traffic conditions at the inbound and outbound vehicle plaza of HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check the real time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts (or visit traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/).
The TD has worked with relevant Mainland authorities and operators to formulate plans to strengthen services at various ports, including increasing the frequency of the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), as well as arranging dedicated public transport lanes at the HZMB Port, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Shenzhen Bay Port as necessary, with a view to ensuring smooth public transport operations. Subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port to facilitate public transport vehicles to enter the above control points smoothly. Motorists are advised to pay special attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the road.
In addition, the TD has approached various public transport operators proactively to enhance the capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. Among them, the MTR will enhance train service of railway lines (including East Rail Line) until October 13, with a total of about 950 extra trips, so as to facilitate the travelling of local residents and visitors.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic and transport situation of various districts, boundary control points and major stations, and implement response measures where appropriate. Members of the public are advised to keep in view the latest traffic news through radio, television broadcasts and the TD's HKeMobility mobile application.
