THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1985
7
WARNING ABOUT ENDANGERED SPECIES
*****
THE PUBLIC WERE REMINDED AGAIN TODAY THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE TO POSSESS, IMPORT OR EXPORT ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORISATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
THE REMINDER WAS GIVEN BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, FOLLOWING A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A MAN HAD BEEN FINED $2 500 AT FANLING MAGISTRACY FOR ILLEGALLY POSSESSING 17 OWLS.
THE BIRDS WERE CONFISCATED,
SO FAR THIS YEAR, 165 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE. MOST OF THE CASES CONCERNED THE ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF OWLS, KESTRELS, BUZZARDS, PANGOLINS AND STUFFED SPECIMENS OF SEA TURTLES AND CROCODILES.
FINES TOTALLED $74 000.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED PEOPLE GOING ABROAD IN THE SUMMER VACATION PERIOD NOT TO BRING BACK ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.
+FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE MAY LEAD TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 ON CONVICTION FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE, AND $10 000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES,+ HE WARNED.
CONTROLS SOUGHT ON LIVE POULTRY, REPTILES, FISH AS FOOD
*****
LEGISLATION IS BEING PROPOSED TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE SO THAT LIVE POULTRY. LIVE REPTILES AND LIVE FISH CAN BE REGARDED AS FOOD FOR THE PURPOSES OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONTROL.
IF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985 IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE REGULATIONS TO COVER THESE THREE FOOD CATEGORIES, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR LEUNG PAK-CHUNG EXPLAINED.
DE AM" "DMENT ..