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Press Release
Two men convicted of exporting waste oil<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Two men have been sentenced at a Tsuen Wan Magistracy Court hearing to two months' imprisonment suspended for 18 months after being convicted of exporting waste oil without a permit on June 1.
"It is the fourth imprisonment case of waste import and export offences since the implementation of control under the Waste Disposal Ordinance," a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said today (June 16).
"We believe the verdict will help deter illegal waste movements across the boundary", he said.
On May 30, the Customs and Excise Department intercepted a Hong Kong registered vessel and a modified vehicle along the seafront at Tam Kon Shan Road, Tsing Yi, during an anti-illicit fuel operation.
One man, aged 61, was the vessel owner and the second man, 38, was the vessel master. At the time of interception, they were pumping waste mineral oil from the modified vehicle to the vessel.
The case was later referred to EPD for investigation. The defendants admitted under caution that they intended to export the waste oil to the Mainland.
Under the Ordinance, waste mineral oil is classified as chemical waste and export of such waste requires a permit from the department. Failing to comply with this requirement is an offence liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months.
End/Friday, June 16, 2006
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