**********************************************************
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Customs and Excise Department conducted a joint operation this morning (April 13) and seized about 100 kilogrammes of fresh pork suspected of dubious origin.
The officers intercepted a private car at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point about 6am and found on board five bags of pork without health certificates.
A man arrested during the operation was assisting investigation.
A department spokesman said that under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, it was an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat and poultry without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of "importing unmanifested cargo" is liable on conviction to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
He said the department would continue to closely monitor the sale of meat at retail level and take stringent enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health.
"Anyone who has doubts about meat being sold at retail outlets should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000," he said.
Ends/Friday, April 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:41
NNNN