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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1976
BILL TO PROTECT ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND PLANTS
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A BILL, WHICH PROPOSES TO EXTEND CONTROLS ON THE TRADING OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION, RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) BILL 1976, CONFORMS WITH THE PROVISION OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA, REFERRED TO IN BRIEF AT THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION.
IN MOVING THE READING, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. BILL DORWARD, POINTED OUT THAT THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION SEEKS TO REGULATE RATHER THAN PROHIBIT TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA AND THAT IT WOULD BE ASSUMED THAT +SUCH REGULATION WOULD GENERALLY BE COMMENSURATE WITH AN ENLIGHTENED ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED.+
THE BILL, IF APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WILL REPEAL AND REPLACE THE PRESENT ANIMALS AND BIRDS (RESTRICTION OF IMPORTATION AND POSSESSION) ORDINANCE.
THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BILL AND EXISTING LEGISLATION IS THAT THE BILL WILL EXTEND CONTROLS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES OF PLANTS, MOLLUSCS, REPTILES AND ANIMAL PARTS. THE LIST OF LIVE ANIMALS TO BE PROTECTED IS EXTENDED, AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE ANY PROTECTED ANIMAL WHICH IS BORN IN HONG KONG. CULTIVATED PLANTS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO CONTROLS.
MR. DORWARD SAID THAT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP TO ADVISE THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WHO WILL BE THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING THE IMPORT AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES BY LICENCE WILL CONTINUE, BUT EXPORTS WILL ALSO REQUIRE LICENCES, IN GENERAL, LICENCES TO IMPORT WILL ONLY BE ISSUED WHEN THE EXPORTING COUNTRY ISSUES AN EXPORT LICENCE.
AS FAR AS THE SKINS OF CROCODILES, SNAKES AND LIZARDS ARE CONCERNED ALTHOUGH THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE, AN ORDER WILL BE MADE UNDER THE LEGISLATION EXCLUDING THESE ITEMS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL. THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL TRADE CONCERNED WITH THESE TMEMS AND IT WOULD BE TOO DIFFICULT TO BRING THEM UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE TIME BEING.
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT, WHICH IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF UNMANUFACTURED IVORY, IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE DRAWN UP UNDER THE CONVENTION, AND TRADE IN IVORY WILL NOT, THEREFORE, BE AFFECTED BY THE BILL.
/OKE