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TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1986
CLAMPDOWN ON ILLEGAL SALE OF ANIMALS, BIRDS
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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL STEP UP PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL TRADERS IN ANIMALS AND BIRDS, PARTICULARLY THE ENDANGERED SPECIES WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY LAW.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ISSUED THIS WARNING TODAY (TUESDAY) FOLLOWING A COURT CASE IN WHICH A MAN WAS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT AT NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE INVOLVING ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF PANGOL IN MEAT FOR TRADING.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT A JAIL SENTENCE HAD BEEN IMPOSED BY THE COURT UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED BY THE COURT, TOGETHER WITH STRINGENT LAW ENFORCEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT, WILL DETER PEOPLE FROM BREACHING THE LAW, HE SAID,
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN THE PAST TEN DAYS, THE DEPARTMENT, WITH POLICE SUPPORT, HAD MADE THREE SUCCESSFUL RAIDS IN MONG KOK.
IN THESE OPERATIONS, 22 ANIMALS AND 22 BIRDS WERE SEIZED, INCLUDING TWO BLACK BAZAS, TWO PARROTS AND AN ELONGATED TORTOISE. ALL ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THOSE INVOLVED FACE ACTION UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS) ORDINANCES.
THE FORMER ORDINANCE WHICH AIMS AT CONSERVING ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND PLANTS BY CONTROLLING THE IR IMPORT, EXPORT AND POSSESSION, PROVIDES FOR A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 FOR A FIRST OFFENCE AND A FINE OF $10 000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR A SUBSEQUENT OFFENCE.
UNDER THE LATTER ORDINANCE, WHICH REGULATES TRADING OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS BY LICENSING CONTROL, A FINE OF $2 000 MAY
IMPOSED ON AN OFFENDER.
BE
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT MONG KOK HAD RECENTLY BECOME A BLACK SPOT FOR SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, THERE WERE SEVEN CASES INVOLVING EIGHT AN IMALS AND 113 BIRDS COMPARED WITH SIX CASES INVOLVING ONE ANIMAL AND 67 BIRDS IN ALL OF 1985.
THESE ANIMALS AND BIRDS INCLUDED SUCH ENDANGERED CREATURES AS PANGOLINS, MONKEYS, LEOPARD CATS, OWLS, KESTRELS AND SEA TURTLES.
+ENFORCEMENT STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE VISITING THE PROBLEM AREA MORE FREQUENTLY WITH A VIEW TO CURBING THESE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO ASSIST BY REPORTING ANY SUCH ILLEGAL SALE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S LIVESTOCK ENFORCEMENT UNIT AT 3-7332158.
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