Officers intercepted a private car at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point about 7am and found 17 bags of pork without health certificates.

Two men wee arrested during the operation are assisting the investigation.

A Food and Environmental Health Department spokesman said that under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, it is an offence to bring any meat or poultry into Hong Kong without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $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.

"Anyone who has doubts about meat being sold at retail outlets should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000," he said.