HONG KONG, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's customs authorities announced Wednesday that it had seized about 225,000 suspected smuggled electronic chips, with an estimated market value of about 6.25 million Hong Kong dollars (about 790,000 U.S. dollars).

The chips were detected on Tuesday in an outgoing cross-boundary private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, according to the customs authorities.

After an investigation, Hong Kong's customs authorities arrested a 39-year-old local male driver and a 50-year-old Chinese mainland male passenger, both of whom were suspected of being connected with the case.

The two men were jointly charged with one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo.

Smuggling is a serious offence in Hong Kong. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of 2 million Hong Kong dollars and imprisonment for seven years.