Environmental protection agency seeks to plug loopholes exploited by importers
Smugglers of banned electronic waste are exhausting all means and testing every legal loophole to defend themselves in court, making prosecution and conviction increasingly difficult, a senior environment official said.
Environmental Protection Department assistant director Benny Wong Yiu-kam said law enforcers had been increasingly challenged by smugglers over the past two years, though ways were eventually found to bring them to justice.
'When dealing with these [smugglers], we have to fight back wisely as they often change their defence tactics,' said Mr Wong as he reviewed environmental prosecutions over the past year.
A total of 49 prosecutions were launched against illegal importers last year, with 37 convicted. The conviction rate was similar to 2005, but far better than 2004.
Last year, importers challenged a sampling rule for the inspection of containers fully loaded with computer monitors. Under the rule, an entire consignment was deemed to be electronic waste if at least 2 per cent of its components was found to be waste. This was increased to 10 per cent after importers successfully appealed to the courts.