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Press
Release
Record
fines for violating Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance
Record
fines were handed down by court last Wednesday (September
5) on a company for violating the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance
(OLPO).
The company
was found guilty of re-exporting 66 drums of carbon tetrachloride
to the mainland without a valid licence on February 9, 2001,
and two other offences of contravening a licensing condition
which required it to re-export two consignments of 960 drums
of carbon tetrachloride before December 31, 2000.
It was
also the first conviction case against breaching a licensing
condition stipulated in the export licence.
The company
was fined at Tuen Mun Magistracy a total of $500,000, $300,000
for the first offence and $100,000 for each of the two other
offences.
The Principal
Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Pang Sik-wing, said the
heavy fine reflected the increasing attention to the need
to protect the ozone layer and to join the international efforts
in controlling substances that will deplete the ozone layer.
"People
importing or exporting ozone depleting substances must comply
fully with the licensing requirements," he noted.
Carbon
tetrachloride is a substance commonly used as a cleaning agent
in industries such as electroplating. It can damage the ozone
layer if released to the atmosphere.
Import
of carbon tetrachloride for local consumption has been banned
from January 1, 1996 in accordance the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Import for re-export
of such substances is under registration and licensing control.
The maximum penalty for offences is $1 million fine and two
years' imprisonment.
Mr Pang
calls on the public and the trades to help protect the ozone
layer by using more ozone layer friendly alternatives.
In addition
to this case, there have been 86 conviction cases under the
OLPO since its enactment in 1989 with fines ranging from $3,000
to $50,000.
End/Wednesday,
September 12, 2001
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