Customs sources said nobody had claimed 22 40-foot containers even long after their arrival. After investigating the shipping bills, customs officials concluded there must be something wrong with them.

They opened the containers and found only scrap computer monitors, keyboards, copiers and color TV sets inside, which according to Chinese regulations are banned imports.

"As the address and telephone number on the shipping bills arefake, we believe this is most likely a deliberate move to transfer electronic garbage," said a customs official.

He said the customs was determined to repatriate these waste goods in line with the law. At present, it was still making further checks into the case.

Unwilling to invest in garbage disposal, certain developed countries are seeking to transfer their wastes to developing countries and regions. Much garbage, especially the electronic kind, contains harmful chemical materials.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2002)