Hong Kong Customs Seizes 17 Endangered Lizards Concealed in Snack Tins, Valued at $51,000

Hong Kong Customs seizes live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs today (May 16) seized 17 live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, with a total estimated market value of about $51,000.

Through risk assessment, Customs today intercepted an incoming lorry at the control point. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species was concealed in potato chip tins and wrapped in clothes.

The batch of live lizards were handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

DoJ large-scale rule of law drama “Rule of Law Academy – Adventure to the Stars” returns with great acclaim

The large-scale Rule of Law Drama Day organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) returns with great acclaim, presenting the drama “Rule of Law Academy – Adventure to the Stars” today and tomorrow (May 16 and 17) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The drama promotes rule of law education to senior primary students and parents in an interesting and interactive manner. The two performances are expected to attract an audience of more than 2 000 people.

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, return to the stage, playing the roles of the Principal and Vice-principal of the Rule of Law Academy respectively. In addition to engaging warmly with the audience, they deliver singing and dancing performances. They lead both the students in the play and the audience on a journey in deepening their understanding of the rule of law and practising the spirit of respect, integrity, justice and law-abidingness in order to earn the honour of “Rule of Law Star”, conveying the important message of upholding the rule of law.

Through an exciting adventure story, the play integrates the concept of the rule of law into the plot in a lively and interactive way. By participating in the interactive session, members of the audience assist the protagonists in the drama to overcome challenges and to attain the distinction of the “Rule of Law Star”, thereby experiencing how to implement the values of fairness and equality, honesty and integrity, solidarity and mutual support, as well as a law-abiding spirit, in their daily life.

The DoJ launched the “Rule of Law through Drama” project in 2021. Through lively, interesting and interactive drama performances, students can learn the proper concept of the rule of law, enhancing their law-abiding awareness and cultivating the spirit of the rule of law. The project has presented over 350 drama performances to primary schools in various districts across the territory since its launch.

To further extend the rule of law education from school to family and the wider community, the DoJ held the inaugural Rule of Law Drama Day in May last year, which was well received. Building on its success, the Rule of Law Drama Day returns to stage this year with enhanced content and new songs, continuing to promote the rule of law education in an interesting and interactive way.