CUSTOMS OFFICERS who police Hong Kong's entry ports are not just on the lookout for travellers overloaded with duty-free goodies or smuggling illegal drugs. If you happen to be sashaying through the green channel at Chek Lap Kok airport holding a bunch of orchids, carrying crocodile-skin luggage packed with American ginseng roots and caviar, you could be in for an equally torrid time.
Bringing such items into Hong Kong without a licence or certificate is forbidden under international laws protecting endangered species. Culprits suffer more than the embarrassment of having their souvenirs and gifts confiscated in public - they also face a humbling court appearance and probable fine.
Yet these are exactly the things people are caught carrying through Customs almost every day (although admittedly not all at once). The number of travellers bringing back endangered species has risen significantly this year. In the first six months, Customs officers seized 145 items from travellers, compared with 93 during the same period last year.
The offending items found included: orchids, American ginseng root, crocodile meat, cacti, hwamei and Pekin robin songbirds, pitcher plants, box turtles, parrots, ivory, stuffed crocodiles, caviar and medicine with tiger ingredients.
The standard excuse from those caught by Customs is ignorance, but Endangered Species Protection Officer Cheung Chi-sun says that's about as much use as trying to bring a stuffed crocodile back to life. 'We normally prosecute offenders,' he says.
Between January and June, 125 people were taken to court and 83 convicted. The maximum penalty is a $5-million fine and two years in jail. Cheung says magistrates often impose small fines for first-time offenders, starting at $100 for minor breaches. Small change for some perhaps, but an expensive ginseng soup.
'The law can be confusing,' says one tai tai who adores crocodile leather accessories. 'You can bring back a crocodile bag if you get a certificate from the trader stating it's approved for export. But I can understand some people not knowing.' Those who don't know are likely to lose their status-symbol, $90,000 Hermes crocodile Birkin or Kelly bag soon after touching down in the SAR.
