Enforcement actions against illegal hillside burial cases
The Home Affairs Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Lands Department (LandsD) conducted a joint enforcement operation from May 5 to 13 at the two Permitted Burial Grounds (PBGs) of Tap Mun in Tai Po and Wong Kong Shan in North District against illegal hillside burials. A total of 22 illegal graves/urn houses/urns have been removed, and the human remains therein have been reburied at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery.
The FEHD and the LandsD posted notices on a total of 22 unauthorised graves/urn houses/urns located within the above-mentioned two PBGs on January 12 and March 17 this year, requiring the related persons of the graves/urn houses/urns concerned to cease occupation of the government land and to contact relevant government departments before February 12 and April 17 this year respectively, or else the human remains therein would be reburied at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery. As all the 22 graves/urn houses/urns remained unclaimed upon expiry of the deadlines, the Government commenced this joint enforcement and clearance operation.
The Government has been implementing a pilot scheme on the management of PBGs in individual PBGs since 2016. Taking into account the actual circumstances of each PBG, the Government has been implementing appropriate improvement measures, including erecting boundary pillars for the PBGs, conducting record surveys of existing graves/urn houses/urns, imposing restrictions on the size of burial sites and demarcating available spaces in PBGs for new applications of burial sites in order to ensure that the places of burials are within PBGs. The pilot scheme has now been extended to 15 PBGs, covering all nine administrative districts in the New Territories.
Having examined the data obtained from the pilot scheme, the Government has commenced enforcement actions against illegal burials in the PBGs in phases from July 2021 onwards. Besides conducting enforcement actions in the above-mentioned PBGs, the Government will also continue to take follow-up actions in other PBGs under the pilot scheme, including posting notices on other unauthorised graves/urn houses/urns before the coming Chung Yeung Festival, with a view to removing unclaimed graves/urn houses/urns as soon as possible after the expiration of the notice period.
A Government spokesman reiterated that, according to the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28), it is an offence when any person occupying government land, otherwise than under permission from the Authority, does not cease the occupation as required by a notice prescribed by the Ordinance. Any property or structure on the occupied government land may be demolished and removed by the Government, and the occupier may be prosecuted. Furthermore, according to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), it is an offence to bury human remains without the permission in writing of the Authority. Offenders are liable to prosecution, and the human remains inside the graves concerned will be removed.
Source: AI-found images
DH and Hong Kong Customs carry out joint operation to crack down on illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injection
To combat the illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injections, the Department of Health (DH) and Hong Kong Customs carried out a joint enforcement operation yesterday (May 12) in Tin Shui Wai, arresting a 31-year-old woman suspected of illegally selling Part 1 poison and an unregistered pharmaceutical product, and importing a pharmaceutical product not under and in accordance with a licence.
Following up on a complaint, the DH and Hong Kong Customs purchased two boxes of an anti-obesity injection (see photos) from the woman in question via an online social media platform. The product packaging indicated in Japanese that it contains tirzepatide, a substance classified as Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The product is suspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong.
The DH and Hong Kong Customs will continue to investigate the case, and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Tirzepatide is used for the treatment of obesity, and its side effects include hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea. Medicines containing tirzepatide should be used under a doctor's direction and must be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (commonly known as a pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription.
The DH strongly urged members of the public not to self-purchase or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. Purchasing controlled medicines (including anti-obesity injections) online poses health risks. Besides the lack of a doctor's assessment of an individual's health condition, it is difficult to ascertain the legitimate source of the drugs. It is also impossible to know whether the drugs were properly stored during transportation (especially for drugs requiring cold-chain storage). This leaves their safety, quality and efficacy unguaranteed.
The DH also reminded the public that selling medicines controlled under the PPO illegally, regardless of the sales channel (including online sales platforms, instant messaging applications or social media), carries criminal liability. Do not risk breaking the law.
According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Additionally, pharmaceutical products containing Part 1 poisons could only be sold at the registered premises of a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If any contravention of the law is suspected, the DH will follow up and carry out enforcement action. After seeking advice from the Department of Justice, prosecutions against relevant persons may be initiated. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
Hong Kong Customs reminded the public that under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), import or export of all controlled items(including pharmaceutical products and medicines) must be accompanied by a valid licence issued by the relevant authorities. Any person who brings any controlled item into/out of Hong Kong (whether in person, by post, or through purchasing agents or consolidated consignments) without a valid licence may be prosecuted, in addition to the confiscation of the subject item. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
The DH reminded the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for "Health message on overweight problem and slimming products" for information.
DH and Hong Kong Customs carry out joint operation to crack down on illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injection Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH and Hong Kong Customs carry out joint operation to crack down on illegal online sale and illegal import of controlled anti-obesity injection Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
