The Customs and Excise Department intercepted a 77-year-old mainland Chinese man in the inbound hall of Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on 11 October. Officers found 164 live turtles in a reusable bag and a backpack.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department examined the turtles and preliminarily identified some as endangered species listed in the appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Those species are controlled under Hong Kong law.
The case was referred to the department for follow-up investigation.