Environment policy officials from Japan and Hong Kong have started consultations on the large volume of exports to Hong Kong of used pachinko machines, which contain electronic components that pose a serious health hazard when the circuit boards are disassembled in China.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2006/nn20061127a2a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='180'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Workers separate components from discarded pachinko machines exported from Japan. </B> KYODO PHOTO</FONT></TD> </TR> <TABLE> </PHOTO> <PARAGRAPH>Around 3 million pachinko machines are discarded each year in Japan, according to Nippon Yugikikogyo Kumiai –

, an association of pachinko manufacturers.

Of these, more than 1 million are believed to end up in Hong Kong, with the remainder passed on to domestic recycling companies, officials at the Environment Ministry said.

Most of the old pachinko machines that are exported are listed as recyclable "used products" and could violate an international law regulating transborder movements of hazardous waste, the officials said.

These machines have had the liquid crystal removed from them and as a result cannot be refurbished for future use.