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Press
Releases - 1998
Traders
reminded of ozone depleting substances control
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) is mounting a five-day campaign
this week with the co-operation of the Customs and Excise
Department to promote awareness among traders and lorry drivers
of control requirement on import and export of ozone depleting
substances (ODSs).
During
the campaign, information leaflets will be distributed to
lorry drivers crossing Man Kam To, Lok Ma Chau and Sha Tau
Kok. EPD has also written to shippers, forwarders, importers
and exporters to remind them of the legal requirements.
Under
the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance, drivers importing or
exporting ODSs are required to produce a valid import or export
licence. They should carefully check the cargoes on board
their vehicles and declare the full names of any ODSs in the
manifest to be presented at the land control points.
Principal
Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Leung Pak-ming, said
Hong Kong has been controlling the import and export of ODSs
to fulfil its international obligations under the Montreal
Protocol. Most ODSs such as chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) and
halons have been banned from import except Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs) which are under a quota control.
Common
ODSs mainly include the refrigerants for the older generation
of air conditioners and refrigerators, and some cleaning solvents.
In Hong
Kong the import and export control of ODSs is jointly enforced
by the Trade Department, Customs and Excise Department and
EPD.
Under
the Ordinance, any person importing or exporting scheduled
ODSs without a licence commits an offence and is liable to
a maximum fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for two years.
End/Tuesday,
May 26, 1998
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