On 14 May 2023, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise (“C&E”) Department seized 18 live turtles and 3 live lizards suspected to be endangered species worth approximately HK$160,000 at the Hong Kong International Airport. This is the first case of live endangered species smuggling involving a passenger detected by Customs this year since the resumption of normal travel between the city and other parts of the world.

C&E officers conducted customs clearance on a 27-year-old male passenger who arrived from Bangkok, and found the batch of live turtles and lizards suspected to be endangered species packed around his outer thighs. The man was subsequently arrested and the case has been handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (“AFCD”) for follow-up action.

The maximum penalty for the unauthorised import, export, re-export and possession of certain endangered species was increased to a fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for 10 years in May 2018, when the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586)[1] was amended in order to provide a stronger deterrent against the smuggling and illegal trade of endangered species.  Subsequently, in August 2021, the Legislative Council passed a landmark amendment of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455)[2] (“OSCO”) to include wildlife crime, granting authorities wider investigative and enforcement powers to further combat illegal wildlife smuggling.

Despite these legislative amendments, it appears that wildlife trafficking activity has remained rampant in the city. As a gateway to mainland China, Hong Kong has been notoriously known as a major hub for wildlife trade and trafficking, with more than 900 tonnes of wildlife valued at over HK$358 million seized between 2018 and 2020.[3]

Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic had initially led to a global decrease in wildlife smuggling[4], the recent discovery of a critically endangered Siamese crocodile in Hong Kong’s New Territories area (see our previous article here) has raised concerns that the reopening of borders and easing of travel restrictions will cause illegal wildlife trade to bounce back in the city.  

Frustratingly, AFCD had reportedly confirmed that, as of January 2022, the powers of OSCO have not yet been invoked in any enforcement cases handled by the department.[5] It remains to be seen whether and how the OSCO amendment bill will be implemented in practice.

Courtesy of Ruby Tam

Main Source: HK Govt Info

Footnotes

[1] https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap586

[2] https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap455

[3] https://www.wwf.org.hk/en/news/press_release/?24683%2FHong-Kong-officially-includes-illegal-wildlife-trade-in-Organised-and-Serious-Crimes-Ordinance-The-legislation-will-curb-illicit-smuggling-activities-effectively

[4] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/wildlife-seizures-dropped-in-2020-but-an-illicit-trade-boom-may-be-coming?loggedin=true

[5] https://earth.org/is-hong-kong-illegal-wildlife-trade-on-the-brink/