Checks stepped up to halt poultry smuggling - HONG KONG - Customs officers have detained 212 people for questioning and seized more than 700 kilograms of fresh and frozen poulty and five live birds in the past three months in a crackdown on poultry-smuggling.

Assistant Commissioner (Boundary & Ports) Chow Kwong said today since the discovery of H5N1 in Hunan in October last year, Customs officers have stepped up boundary-protection enforcement actions.

Last month, Customs officers seized 1,567kg of illicit chicken and poultry meat, and two live chickens at the air, land and sea boundaries. In 2005, the department seized 254,943kg of illicit chicken and poultry meat, and 28 live birds.

"We have strengthened intelligence exchange with Mainland and other Customs authorities, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department to crack down on smuggling activities of birds and poultry," Mr Chow said.

He urged people not to bring birds or poultry into Hong Kong illegally, or they will face prosecution.

Smuggling poultry can lead to $500k fine

Under the Import & Export Ordinance, any person importing unmanifested cargo, or importing prohibited articles is liable on summary conviction to a $500,000 fine and two years' jail.

Under the Imported Game, Meat & Poultry Regulations of the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance, bringing into Hong Kong any meat and poultry without an official certificate is liable to a $50,000 fine and six months' jail.

Under the Public Health (Animals & Birds) Regulations of the Public Health (Animals & Birds) Ordinance, importing into Hong Kong any bird without a health certificate is liable to a fine of $25,000.

Source: Hong Kong Government - 6th February 2006