TRADE AND INDUSTRY
In October 1995 the branch took on the additional responsibility of enforcing the new Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, which covers a wide variety of consumer goods not yet covered under existing legislation.
Trade in Endangered Species
The import, export and possession of endangered species of animals and plants, including parts and derivatives, are regulated by the Animals and Plants (Protec- tion of Endangered Species) Ordinance, which gives effect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Licensing policy follows closely the principles of the Convention. Commercial import and export of highly-endangered species are prohibited, and trade in less-endangered species is subject to licensing requirements.
The ordinance is administered by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and enforced by the department and the Customs and Excise Department through checking at entry points, markets, shops and restaurants, as well as inspection of licensed endangered species shipments. All suspected offences are investigated and prosecutions are instituted if there is evidence of a breach of the ordinance. During 1995, there were some 550 seizures and 410 prosecutions under the ordinance.
The ordinance was amended in January 1995 to provide for a sharp increase in penalties, which now range up to a maximum fine of $5 million and imprisonment for two years. The schedules to the ordinance were amended in July 1995 to reflect changes in the lists of endangered species subject to control as adopted in the Ninth Conference of the Parties to CITES.
Government Supplies Department
The Government Supplies Department is the government's central organisation for the procurement and supply of stores and equipment required by government departments and certain subvented organisations. It also seconds supplies staff to other departments to ensure a professional approach to the acquisition and maintenance of stores and equipment.
Since 1979, the department has represented the Hong Kong Government as an entity in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the GATT. Under the agreement, except for special requirements, all purchases exceeding Special Drawing Rights 130 000 ($1.41 million in 1995) are widely advertised and open to competi- tive bidding internationally. All purchases, ranging from simple office sundries to complex computer systems, are made entirely on the basis of the 'best value for money', regardless of the supply source. Due to its open procurement policy, goods and services are purchased from 38 countries and some 4 000 registered local and overseas suppliers.
The department holds supplies of goods to meet general departmental needs in its main stores in Hong Kong and Kowloon. To achieve more economical use of resources and greater efficiency, the department is planning to move to a new purpose-built warehouse in 1996.
In 1994–95, the department placed orders of a total value of about $5.14 billion. In addition to local suppliers, other major sources of supply were the USA, Germany, the UK, China and Japan. Major items of purchase included food provisions, computer systems, medical supplies and equipment, and water pipes and treatment
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