Hong Kong Customs Seizes Suspected Endangered Reptiles Worth About $173,800 at Airport; Man Arrested for Illegal Importation

Hong Kong Customs seizes reptiles of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport.

A 31-year-old incoming local man arrived in Hong Kong from the Netherlands via Shanghai yesterday. He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrival hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of reptiles inside his check-in baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the batch of reptiles was suspected to be endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The man was subsequently arrested by Customs officers. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

The arrested man will be charged by the AFCD with one count of illegal import of an Appendix II species and one count of cruelty to animals.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants 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.

Also, according to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), any person who, by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years upon conviction.

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 yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the turtles of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the lizards of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the lizards of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the snakes of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR LegCo strongly condemns and opposes external forces' defamation and smears against court's sentencing in the "conspiracy to commit collusion" case of Wong Chi-fung

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

Multiple Western countries, anti-China media, overseas organisations and politicians have recently made untruthful remarks under the pretext of the court's sentencing in the case of Wong Chi-fung concerning the offence of "conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign countries or with external elements to endanger national security", defaming and smearing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) judicial system and national security laws, and attempting to deliberately distort Wong Chi-fung's criminal acts of harming the interests of the country and the HKSAR into personal political expression. A spokesperson for the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR yesterday (November 6) stated that this is entirely a political manipulation aimed at confusing the public and misleading the public of Hong Kong as well as the international community. LegCo expresses resolute opposition against this.

The LegCo spokesperson emphasised that the court has clearly pointed out that Wong Chi-fung and Law Kwun-chung were the masterminds of the case, and the advocates at the forefront calling for foreign countries to impose sanctions or other hostile measures against Hong Kong. Before the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), they had persistently colluded with foreign countries or external elements, actively and openly soliciting foreign countries to impose sanctions against China and Hong Kong. Following the implementation of the HKNSL, they continued to commit acts endangering national security. As stated in the HKSAR Government's statement, the Basic Law specifically stipulates that the judicial power, including that of final adjudication, vested with the HKSAR, is to be exercised by the Judiciary independently, free from interference. Regardless of the occupation, political belief or background of the persons involved in the case, all cases are dealt with in an equal and impartial manner. In this case, the court emphasised that the HKNSL does not have retrospective effect and that Wong Chi-fung was not punished for his pre-HKNSL acts or activities, nor for his political ideology.

The LegCo spokesperson pointed out that in this case, Wong Chi-fung has pleaded guilty to the charge and the relevant facts of the offence, and the court has also fully considered various legal principles and evidence before handing down its sentence in accordance with the law. However, some external forces with ulterior motives have disregarded facts and evidence, and under the pretext of this case, wantonly attacked the HKSAR's work in safeguarding national security, human rights, freedom and the rule of law, and even demanded the unconditional release of Wong Chi-fung and the withdrawal of his charges. The LegCo spokesperson emphasised that this is a serious undermining of the rule of law.

The LegCo spokesperson further pointed out that some Western countries have long used "human rights" and "freedom" as pretexts to make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs. Regarding the HKSAR's efforts to combat crimes endangering national security in accordance with the law, the standards they hold are completely different from those they adopt when dealing with severe social unrest in their own places. Such double standards completely violate international political ethics and are totally unacceptable, and are strongly condemned.

The LegCo spokesperson stated that since the implementation of the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Hong Kong society has restored stability and prosperity, and has continued to rank among the top globally in various international business and competitiveness rankings, including maintaining its top ranking as the world's freest economy, ranking first globally in cross-border wealth management, and recording an increase in its global competitiveness ranking for three consecutive years to rank second globally this year. The latest data from the HKSAR Government shows that Hong Kong's gross domestic product in the third quarter of this year registered a notable year-on-year growth estimate of 5.2 per cent, and the economic outlook remains positive. Regarding the rule of law, the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation was established in Hong Kong last year, providing efficient mediation services for the international community; the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law has also recently established its Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in Hong Kong, further demonstrating Hong Kong's leading position as an international legal hub.

The LegCo spokesperson reiterated that it is an inherent duty for the HKSAR, including LegCo, to firmly safeguard national security, and once again urged the relevant Western countries, anti-China media, overseas organisations and politicians to squarely face the serious nature and objective facts of cases endangering national security in Hong Kong, and immediately cease interfering in China's internal affairs and HKSAR affairs.

Source: AI-found images