SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1990
CASH AWARD FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION ON CRANE SHOOTING
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) REITERATED ITS APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE CRUEL SHOOTING OF A PAIR OF CRANES AND A RUDDY SHELDUCK KEPT IN VICTORIA PARK EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THE SECOND APPEAL FOLLOWS THE RECEIPT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AN OFFER OF $5 000 IN CASH AWARD FROM A PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZEN FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALLOUS INCIDENT WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE ARREST OF THE CULPRIT.
"IT IS ALARMING TO ALLOW FOR SUCH WANTON AND CRUEL DESTRUCTION OF RARE AND BEAUTIFUL BIRDS. IT IS A DISGRACE TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE DONAR SAID IN HIS LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT.
"IT IS THEREFORE THE DUTY OF EVERYONE OF US TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST BIRDS AND ANIMALS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ENDANGERED SPECIES KEPT IN PUBLIC PARKS AND GARDENS."
WELCOMING THE MOVE, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S STAFF OFFICER (SPECIAL GARDENING) MR CHEUNG YIN-FAI, SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN MUCH PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THIS SAD INCIDENT BUT SO FAR, NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING WAS FORTHCOMING.
"ALTHOUGH THE CASE HAS BEEN REFERRED ΤΟ THE POLICE, ANY PUBLIC INFORMATION WOULD HELP US AND THE POLICE IN THE INVESTIGATION AND BRING THE CULPRIT TO JUSTICE.
"MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE USEFUL INFORMATION TO OFFER MAY EITHER CONTACT THE VICTORIA PARK OFFICE (TELEPHONE NO. 8904204) OR THE CAUSEWAY BAY POLICE STATION. ALTERNATIVELY, THEY ARE ALS0 WELCOME TO RING THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS AT 7236034, HE SAID.
**
THE SHOOTING OCCURRED ON MARCH 6 AT VICTORIA PARK WHERE A FEMALE WHITE-NAPED CRANE WAS SHOT DEAD, AND A MALE CRANE AND A RUDDY SHELDUCK WERE INJURED AND BLINDED IN ONE BYE.
WHILE NOTING THAT THE INJURED MALE CRANE AND THE RUDDY SHELDUCK WERE MAKING STEADY RECOVERY, MR CHEUNG REPEATED THE DEPARTMENT'S WARNING THAT IT WAS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE PLEASURE GROUNDS (URBAN COUNCIL) BY-LAWS FOR ANYONE TO SHOOT ANIMAL AND BIRD EXHIBITS WITH AN AIR GUN IN ANY PUBLIC PARKS AND GARDENS.
"SUCH MISBEHAVIOUR IS ALSO A VIOLATION AGAINST THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ORDINANCE, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY, IF CONVICTED, IS A FINE OF $5 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, HK ADDED.
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