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Press
Releases - 1998
Driver
convicted for smuggling ozone depleting substances
The Environmental
Protection Department today (Saturday) reminded members of
the public and truck drivers that it is an offence to import
into Hong Kong without a valid licence.
A driver
was convicted last Friday (November 27) for importing without
a valid licence 10 cylinders of dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12).
He was fined $10,000 at the Fanling Magistracy.
The man
was arrested by officers of the Customs and Excise Department
in Lok Ma Chau Control Point on October 27, 1998 when he was
found carrying the banned substance, weighing a total of 227
kilogrammes, on board his goods vehicle into Hong Kong from
the Mainland.
CFC-12
is a substance commonly used as a refrigerant in vehicle air-conditioners.
It has the potential to damage the ozone layer.
In accordance
with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol, Hong Kong
has banned CFC-12 from import for local consumption since
January 1, 1996 under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
The maximum penalty is $1 million fine and two years' imprisonment.
Principal
Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Pang Sik-wing said the
public could help protect the ozone layer by stop using these
substances and use other environmentally friendly refrigerants
such as HFC-134a.
So far
this year, there were eight prosecution cases under the Ozone
Layer Protection Ordinance and all were resulted in conviction
and fines ranging from $6,000 to $15,000.
End/Saturday,
December 5, 1998
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