Hong Kong Customs seizes illegally imported live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 9) seized four illegally imported live turtles of a suspected scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $5,000, at the Lo Wu Control Point.
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 40-year-old local male passenger at the Arrival Hall of the Lo Wu Control Point yesterday. Upon examination, the four live turtles were seized from his personal baggage. Officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) attended the scene for inspection and preliminarily identified that the four live turtles were of an endangered species listed in the Appendices to 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 in Hong Kong. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.
Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.
According to 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.
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 illegally imported live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Male owner of wedding decoration company convicted of engaging in wrongly accepting payments
A male owner of a wedding decoration company was sentenced to 240 hours of community service today (September 10) after his conviction for engaging in wrongly accepting payments in the sale of services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), on July 31 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts. The male owner was also ordered by the court to make compensation of about $45,000 to the victims of the case.
Hong Kong Customs earlier received numerous reports alleging that a wedding decoration company in San Po Kong suddenly suspended its business in May 2025, failing to provide prepaid wedding decoration services purchased by customers and to arrange refunds.
After an investigation, Customs found that the company involved had been experiencing financial difficulties. Nevertheless, while the company was about to cease business, the male owner continued to accept payments for prepaid wedding decoration services from customers and ultimately failed to provide the services.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Consumers are also reminded to procure services at reputable shops and think prudently before making decisions on consumption with prepayment.
Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if, at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO 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).
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