Hong Kong Customs foils attempt to smuggle electronic goods

Hong Kong Customs announced Thursday that they had seized a batch of electronic products worth 24 million HK dollars (about 3.01 million U.S. dollars) believed unmanifested to evade Mainland import tax. The customs intercepted four cargo containers declared to contain "Wood Plup" before their loading onto an ocean-going vessel destined for Tianjin at Kwai Chung Container Port on June 24. Upon examination, the containers were found to contain the electronic products. The containers were found to contain a large haul of electronic goods including games consoles, computer hard disks, display panels, vehicle parts, laser heads, integrated circuits and waste products. Customs searched a number of premises including a cargo yard in Man Kam To and arrested a 33-year-old man. The investigation is continuing. A Customs spokesman said Thursday that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of 2 million HK dollars and imprisonment for seven years. (1 U.S. dollar = 7.76 HK dollars)