Customs seize record haul of antiquities
POTTERY jars thought to be 8,000 years old have been seized in what is likely to be a record haul of smuggled antiques.
The 36 jars are the oldest found smuggled into the territory.
Customs stopped a lorry at the Lok Ma Chau control point on Thursday and found 147 ancient relics hidden among garments.
Among them were six Buddha heads from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and two tripods from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).
This is the first time these antiques have appeared in Hong Kong.
Pang Kui-sum, Customs assistant superintendent, said: 'We don't know how much they are worth but we only know that they are worth a fortune.' He believed the antiques, still with soil attached, had been illegally excavated from ancient tombs in Xian, then taken to Dongguan.
Mr Pang said they were destined for Japan, Taiwan, the United States and Europe.
There were 73 bone jars from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) - thought to be worth about $500,000 each, or $36.5 million in total - in the haul.
Other relics included 10 burial-attendant figures, two carved stones, bronzeware and pottery.
The driver was granted bail of $10,000 in cash and $50,000 in recognisance. He is expected to appear at Fanling Court on April 28.
The antiques will be returned to the Chinese Government through Xinhua.
