Environmentalists attacked as too lenient the $40,000 fine imposed yesterday on a company that illegally imported toxic computer scrap.
Greenpeace campaigner Ho Wai-chi said: 'Although we are happy with the successful prosecution, we believe the fine does not act as a deterrent.' Bright Metal Company (HK) was ordered to pay the sum after Tsuen Wan magistrate Alison Thompson found it guilty of importing old circuit boards, mobile phone batteries and rusty transformers from Australia without a licence.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a $200,000 fine and six months' jail.
The Taiwan-based company contested three summonses for importing controlled waste without a licence. It said it did not know a licence was needed because the waste was not going to be unloaded in Hong Kong.
The company claimed the cargo was destined for mainland China and was labelled as scrap metal.
Greenpeace highlighted the case in a pre-dawn raid on the vessel last September at Kwai Chung Container Terminal.