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MONDAY, JULY 7, 1980
WARNING ON ANIMAL SOUVENIRS
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RESIDENTS RETURNING TO HONG KONG FROM CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE REMINDED NOT TO BRING BACK SOUVENIRS OF LIVE OR PRESERVED ANIMAL SPECIMENS LISTED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.
THE WARNING WAS ISSUED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WHICH NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MANY CASES RECENTLY WHERE RETURNING RESIDENTS HAD BROUGHT BACK WITH THEM SOUVENIRS SUCH AS STUFFED SEA TURTLES, CROCODILES, TIGER AND LEOPARD SKINS AND LIVE PANGOLINS.
ALL OF THESE ANIMALS AND SOME RARE PLANTS SUCH AS WILD ORCHIDS, CACTUS AND WILD AMERICAN GINSENG ARE PROTECTED BY LAW.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE TO IMPORT OR BE IN POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
HE ADDED THAT DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS THERE HAD BEEN ABOUT 110 CASES OF THIS TYPE, MOST OF WHICH INVOLVED STUFFED SEA TURTLES BROUGHT IN FROM INDONESIA, THE PHILIPPINES, TAIWAN AND OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
+ANY OF THESE ARTICLES BROUGHT IN WITHOUT A LICENCE IS SEIZED BY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, AND THE OFFENDERS PROSECUTED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR A FIRST OFFENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE IS $5 000.
FOR EARLY WATER SUPPLY
REPORT COMPLETION OF PLUMBING WORKS
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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC APPLYING FOR A NEW WATER SUPPLY ARE REMINDED THAT THE COMPLETION OF PLUMBING WORKS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DELAY IN THE IR APPLICATIONS.
THE CHIEF ENGINEER (CONSUMER SERVICES) OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, MR TANG KWOK-YUE, TODAY (MONDAY) SAID A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE BY THE LICENSED PLUMBERS EMPLOYED TO CARRY OUT THE PIPE WORKS AND FITTINGS.
+A NEW WATER SUPPLY CAN ONLY BE GIVEN AFTER COMPLETED PLUMBING WORKS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND APPROVED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.
+ THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAS NOW AND THEN RECEIVED COMPLAINTS OF DELAY IN GETTING A NEW WATER SUPPLY FROM APPLICANTS WHO HAVE PAID THE FEES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A METER AND A WATER DEPOSIT.
/+THE