Activists from WildAid Hong Kong and Hong Kong Shark Foundation protested outside the United Parcel Service (UPS) Customer Centre on Saturday, accusing the company of shipping endangered shark fin to Hong Kong. UPS denies the claims.

UPS shark fin protest
Protesters hold up pictures of dead sharks in front of a United Parcel Service (UPS) customer service centre in Lai Chi Kok. Photo: WildAid.

A petition signed by over 160,000 people was handed over at their Customer Service Centre in Lai Chi Kok.

UPS wildaid protest
Photo: WildAid.

According to WildAid, on December 2014 and February 2015, two air cargo shipments arrived in Hong Kong amounting to nearly a tonne of shark fin.

The shipments were exported from Costa Rica to Hong Kong in violation of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), the group says.

UPS WildAid Protest
Photo: WildAid

Previously, commercial carriers such as American Airlines and other delivery companies, such as DHL, have pledged not to ship shark fin.

wildaid petition
Photo: WildAid

Alex Hofford, a campaigner for WildAid Hong Kong, said, “United Parcel Service’s professed commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and ethical business practices are a sham unless they stop shipping shark fin immediately.”

YouTube video

UPS has denied the allegations, saying that were being unfairly targeted with “unproven claims” and accusing WildAid of having a “publicity agenda.” The statement did not clarify whether shark fins from non-endangered species were being transported by the firm.

UPS Shark Fin
A similar protest over the weekend in Australia. Photo: WildAid.

The Hong Kong event was part of a wider ‘UPS & Shark Fin – Global Day of Action’ at UPS sites around the world including: Costa Rica, the United States, Germany, Singapore, Mexico and Australia.

Tom is the editor-in-chief and founder of Hong Kong Free Press. He has a BA in Communications and New Media from Leeds University and an MA in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong. He has contributed to the BBC, Euronews, Al-Jazeera and others.