Press
Release
Enforcement
against hazardous e-waste movement strengthened
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said
today (April 30) that Hong Kong was committed to curbing illegal
movement of hazardous electronic waste (e-waste).
The spokesman said: "The EPD and the Customs and Excise Department
(C&ED) have been working closely to control and monitor hazardous
e-waste shipments imported into or transshipped through Hong Kong,
and the joint enforcement action has been stepped up since early
2004."
The C&ED launched operation "Trigger" on March 1 to
combat illegal import and transshipment of hazardous e-waste. Since
then, it has examined 133 suspicious consignments.
Of them, 15 consignments were suspected of containing hazardous
e-waste, which was imported without a valid permit. The EPD is now
investigating these cases.
A summons was issued today to the importer of one of these shipments
for importing 617 waste television sets containing cathode ray tubes
to Hong Kong without a permit. The other cases are still under investigation.
"More summonses are expected to be served later this year upon
the completion of investigations," the spokesman noted.
For those suspected illegal consignments, nine have been returned
to the countries of origin through the Basel Convention liaison.
The competent authorities under the convention for these countries
have been notified beforehand to facilitate their investigation.
The spokesman pointed out that the import and export of hazardous
e-waste such as cathode ray tubes in waste computer monitors and
TV sets were subject to permit control under the Waste Disposal
Ordinance (WDO).
Under the WDO, any person who imports or exports hazardous e-waste
without a permit issued by the EPD is liable to a maximum fine of
$200,000 and six months' imprisonment for the first offence, and
$500,000 and two years' imprisonment for subsequent offence.
He said that transboundary movement of hazardous waste was subject
to the control of the Basel Convention. The EPD, as the competent
authority of the convention for Hong Kong, will collaborate with
relevant exporting states to strengthen the control over illegal
shipments of hazardous e-waste.
Since the introduction of the WDO control on import and export of
waste in 1996, there have been 49 prosecutions against illegal movement
of hazardous e-waste, resulting in 40 convictions.
The concerned illegal shipments have all been returned to the countries
of origin for proper disposal.
Ends/Friday, April 30, 2004
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