Importing or exporting controlled strategic commodities without a licence is a serious offence, a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today (August 16).
The spokesman reiterated that Customs officers would step up enforcement actions to crack down on such malpractice in order to monitor the inflow and outflow of strategic commodities so as to prevent Hong Kong from being used for illegal transshipment activities and to ensure the territory's continued access to high-tech products and advanced technology.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment on summary conviction, and an unlimited fine and seven years' imprisonment on indictment.
The reminder was issued after two companies were fined a total of $920,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (August 16). The two companies pleaded guilty to a total of 14 counts of importing/exporting strategic commodities not under and in accordance with a licence. The goods involved were 80 sets of "microwave amplifier" valued at $2,292,787.
The court heard that officers of the Customs and Excise Department found that the above goods were imported into Hong Kong by the companies between May 2000 and November 2002. After the importation, the two companies arranged the export of 21 of them without the cover of any licence out of Hong Kong between July 2001 and January 2003. The goods were Strategic Commodities specified in Schedule 1 to the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations. They fell under Category number 3A001(b)(4)(a) and 3A001(b)(4)(b).
Ends/Wednesday, August 16, 2006