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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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