Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has mounted blitz operations in Yuen Long and Tai Kok Tsui against meat shop malpractices.

In the Yuen Long operation, department officers seized about 130 kilograms of fresh pork suspected of dubious origin from a meat stall on the ground floor, Tung Yick Market at Hop Choi Street. A man and a woman arrested during the operation were assisting investigation. A department spokesman said anyone possessing meat not of lawful origin for sale was committing an offense and was liable to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

In the Tai Kok Tsui operation, a fresh provision shop on the ground floor, no. 1027, Canton Road, was found to be selling frozen mutton as fresh mutton. About 48 kilograms of frozen mutton were seized.

"The case might involve a breach of the Food Business Regulation as the shop was found selling frozen mutton without permission. The department is following up the matter with the operator," a spokesman said.

The spokesman warned all meat retailers to observe the regulation, adding that offenders, upon conviction, were liable to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and six months' imprisonment. He said the department would continue to closely monitor the sale of meat at retail level and take stringent enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health.

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