An importer has been issued a summons for importing 617 waste TV sets containing cathode ray tubes without a permit.

The Environmental Protection Department reiterated Hong Kong's commitment to curbing illegal movement of hazardous electronic waste.

It and the Customs & Excise Department have been working closely to control and monitor hazardous e-waste shipments imported into or transhipped through Hong Kong, and the joint enforcement action has been stepped up since early this year.

On March 1, a Customs operation saw 133 suspicious consignments examined. Of them, 15 were suspected of containing hazardous e-waste, imported without a valid permit.

The cases are being investigated, and more summonses are expected to be served.

9 illegal consignments sent back

Nine of the suspected illegal consignments have been returned to the countries of origin through the Basel Convention liaison, for proper disposal.

The import and export of hazardous e-waste, such as cathode ray tubes in waste computer monitors and TV sets, are subject to permit control under the Waste Disposal Ordinance.

Anyone who imports or exports hazardous e-waste without a permit is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' jail for the first offence, and a $500,000 fine and two years' prison for subsequent offences.

For trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste, it is subject to the control of the Basel Convention. The department will collaborate with relevant exporting states to strengthen control of illegal shipments of hazardous e-waste.

Since the introduction of the control on import and export of waste under the ordinance in 1996, there have been 49 prosecutions against illegal movement of hazardous e-waste, resulting in 40 convictions.