23 cases of smuggled orchids recorded as holiday demand swells in Hong Kong

Hong Kong wildlife protection authorities have recorded 23 cases of smuggled orchids in the first month of the year, with the number expected to rise in the coming weeks as Lunar New Year approaches.The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also pledged to step up patrols and enforcement at borders during the holiday season, when such crimes tend to peak.Endangered Species Protection Officer Jenny Lau Yuen-yung said the department discovered 23 cases of illegally imported orchids between the start of the year and February 1.“We expect the number of cases to rise as we get closer to Lunar New Year,” she said, adding they were usually concentrated in the period right before the holiday.“We will work closely with the Customs and Excise Department to step up enforcement and distribute brochures to remind the public against illegally importing orchids.”In Hong Kong, all orchid species are covered by the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to ensure sustainable trade.