SMUGGLING of all kinds must be contained, if not stopped, otherwise it would threaten the relationship between Hongkong and China, a Court of Appeal judge held yesterday.
It was important to maintain legitimate trade between the two territories and any violation was an erosion of Hongkong's system and lifestyle, said Mr Justice Litton, upholding the sentence in two separate smuggling cases.
Ng Wai-hung, 45, and So Lo, 43, had both pleaded guilty to attempting to export unmanifested cargo and Ng had also admitted a charge of exporting goods in a concealed compartment of a vehicle with intent to smuggle.
While Ng was sentenced to 12 months' jail by Magistrate Mr David Thomas, So was given a three-month jail term by Magistrate Mr Ian Candy. They both appealed against their sentences on the grounds they were excessive.
The court heard that in Ng's case, a goods vehicle on its way to China was stopped for a routine check by customs officers at Lok Ma Chau on June 25.
In a search, about 350 video cassette recorders and televisions were found in a secret compartment and Ng later admitted the goods were his and that he would earn $50,000 if he succeeded in smuggling them to China.
So was arrested when his fishing vessel with 263 cartons of assorted fresh fruit, worth $33,000, was intercepted by Marine Police near Basalt Island last December 1.