499
Written Answers
Vol
144
10 JANUARY 1989
The Agriculture Council will be held on 23 January. It is likely that the following subjects will be discussed: income aids, reform of the beef (and possibly also the sheepmeat) regime, milk quotas, agrimonetary questions. aid to small cereals producers, tree nuts and possibly the labelling of spirit drinks. The Commission is also expected to introduce its 1989 price-fixing proposals.
The Foreign Affairs Council on 23/24 January will include a review of the dispute with the United States on hormones. preparations for the EC/ACP Council of Ministers meeting in Brazzaville on 16/17 February at which negotiations on a successor to the present Lome convention will continue, and discussion of relations with the Council of Europe. There will also be further discussion of new financial protocols for Cyprus and Malta.
The Internal Market Council on 30 January will discuss further measures relevant to the completion of the single market.
Hong Kong (Endangered Species)
HET
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made by the Hong Kong authorities in legislation following their review of measures designed to enforce their responsibilities under the convention on internation- al trade in endangered species: and if he will make a
statement.
Mr. Eggar: The Hong Kong authorities have concluded that the following changes to existing Hong Kong legislation are desirable:
(1) To increase maximum fines by five times. (ii) To tighten up transit requirements.
(iii) To ban the import, export and possession of medicinal products purporting to contain rhinoceros ingredients. (IV) To make it an offence for persons to give false information when applying for endangered species licences.
(v) To overcome certain indentification difficulties by accepting labels and accompanying documents as evidence for prosecution.
(vi) To extend the power of search to cover any offence
committed under the ordinance.
(vu) To empower the Government 10 release live endangered species or dispose of perishable specimens before relevant cases come to court.
Proposals to effect these changes will be included in a draft Bill which the Hong Kong Government intend to introduce into the Legislative Council during its present
session.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many seizures of illegally imported endangered species were made by the Hong Kong authorities in the second six months period of 1988; how many seizures were made of similar categories intended for export: and if he will give details of all seizures made.
Mr. Eggar: During the second six-month period of 1988 the Hong Kong authorities made 186 seizures. Details of the seizures are:
Species: Parts
Quantity
Illegal import
Illegal possession
Felidae (Cats):
Stuffed Skin
7 pieces
4 pieces and 7.3 kg scraps
ра
10/1189 PA 2 Day 1
Written Answers
Illegal possession
Species Parts
Quantity
Illegal import
110 kg
1-5 kg
400 kg
0-25 kg
Deer Antlers:
Musk Pod:
Elephant: Skin Ivory
Monkeys:
Rhinoceros:
Horn
Hide
Pangolin: Meat
23 pieces 1.205 kg
11
33.4 kg
Birds of Prey Owl
Meat
15
0.4 kg
Parrots:
12
Reptiles:
Skins
Sea Turtle:
409 pieces
17 pieces
1.5 kg 0.5 kg
J
3
26
Giant Salamander:
8
ミ
Asiatic Bony
Tongue: Fish
4
2.6 kg
American Ginseng:
500
There were no seizures in respect of intended export.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many restaurant inspections were carried out by the Hong Kong authorities in the second six-month period of 1988 to ensure that no rare or engangered species of animals and plants were offered for sale as food: and if any seizures were made.
Mr. Eggar: The Hong Kong authorities carried out 170 inspections of restaurants during this period. Two sea turtles were seized during these inspections.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the operation to date of the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance (Replacement of Schedules) Order 1988 made by the Hong Kong Executive Council on 26 July 1988 in respect of the import of elephant tusks.
Mr. Eggar: The Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance (Replacement of Schedules) Order 1988 came into effect on 5 August 1988. It extended the import control of ivory to all worked items. Up to 7 January 1989, 39 shipments totalling 510 kg of worked ivory items have been seized. During the same period, 133 shipments totalling 4,752 kg of worked ivory from CITES approved sources have been imported under valid licences.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the ban by the Hong Kong Government on
253 CW69 13 Job 3-"