TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1994
22
NO DYNAMITE OR POISON FISHING ALLOWED
THE USE OF
IS
EXPLOSIVES OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN FISHING AGAINST THE LAW AND COULD MAKE OFFENDERS LIABLE то HEAVY PENALTIES UPON CONVICTION.
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S (AFD) SENIOR CAPTURE FISHERIES OFFICER, MR JOSEPH SHAM, ISSUED THIS REMINDER TODAY (TUESDAY) AFTER TWO FISHERMEN WERE EACH FINED $4,000 BY A PANLING MAGISTRATE LATE LAST MONTH FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES.
UNDER THE FISHERIES PROTECTION ORDINANCE, THE USE OF DYNAMITES OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES INCLUDING CYANIDE IN FISHING IN HONG KONG WATERS IS PROHIBITED.
IT CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $10,000 PLUS IMPRISONMENT UPON CONVICTION.
"APART FROM BREAKING THE LAW, SUCH ACT FISHERMEN'S LONG-TERM INTEREST BECAUSE OF ITS FISHERIES RESOURCES AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT,
SIX MONTHS'
סיד
IS DETRIMENTAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON MR SHAM SAID.
MR SHAM THEREFORE URGED LOCAL FISHERMEN NOT TO ADOPT THIS FISHING METHOD BOTH IN HONG KONG AND OTHER TERRITORIAL WATERS.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AFD AND THE MARINE POLICE WOULD CONTINUE TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AGAINST SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN LOCAL WATERS.
THE CASE WAS UNCOVERED ON NOVEMBER 21 LAST YEAR. ACTING ON INFORMATION, MARINE POLICE ARRESTED TWO FISHERMEN SUSPECTED OF USING EXPLOSIVES TO CATCH FISH OFF PAK SHA TAU TSUI, TOLO CHANNEL.
MR SHAM ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REPORT FISHING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES USING EXPLOSIVES OR POISONS IN HONG KONG WATERS TO AFD OR THE MARINE POLICE SO THAT APPROPRIATE ACTIONS COULD BE TAKEN.
TWO GROUPS RETURN TO VIETNAM
*
TWO GROUPS OF 313 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TODAY (TUESDAY) RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER A VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES.
COMPRISING 111 MEN, 92 WOMEN, 57 BOYS AND 53 GIRLS, THEY WERE THE 196TH AND 197TH BATCHES TO GO BACK UNDER THE PROGRAMME.
THE TWO GROUPS BROUGHT TO 1,311 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY THIS YEAR, AND ΤΟ 39,924 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RETURNEES SINCE THE PROGRAMME STARTED IN MARCH 1989.
0
/23