23
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1994
TOTAL BAN ON TIGER MEDICINES FROM NEXT THURSDAY
(APRIL
EFFECTIVE NEXT THURSDAY
28), THE POSSESSION OF ALL MEDICINES CONTAINING OR CLAIMING TO CONTAIN TIGER INGREDIENTS WILL STRICTLY CONTROLLED IN HONG KONG.
BE
AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES REMINDER A WEEK DEPARTMENT (AFD), MR FRANK LAU SIN-PANG, ISSUED THE BEFORE THE EXPIRY OF A THREE-MONTH GRACE PERIOD MEDICINES IN POSSESSION.
TO TIE IN
WITH THE
FOR
CONTROL, THE DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT WORK IN ITS INSPECTION OF CHINESE MEDICINE COMING MONTHS.
DISPOSING TIGER
STEP WILL
UP SHOPS IN THE
CONTAINING
IN
MEDICINES MR LAU SAID FROM APRIL 28, POSSESSION OF OR CLAIMING TO CONTAIN TIGER INGREDIENTS WOULD ONLY BE PERMITTED, THE FORM OF A POSSESSION LICENCE ISSUED BY AFD, UNDER VERY EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE POINTED OUT THAT CONTROLS OVER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF SUCH ITEMS HAD BECOME EFFECTIVE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE IN LATE JANUARY THIS YEAR. NO IMPORT OR EXPORT LICENCE HAS SINCE BEEN ISSUED.
"THIS IS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA
BE TAKEN AND FLORA (CITES) THAT MEASURES
ΤΟ HALT THE TRADE IN MEDICINES CONTAINING OR CLAIMING TO CONTAIN TIGER INGREDIENTS SINCE THE ANIMAL'S POPULATION IS AT A CRITICAL LEVEL."
MEDICINES IN ADDITION, MR LAU POINTED OUT THAT
BANNED CLAIMING TO CONTAIN RHINO INGREDIENTS HAD BEEN SINCE DECEMBER 1989.
OR
CONTAINING IN HONG KONG
THE
HE CALLED ON MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE TRADERS OR SHOPOWNERS, NOT TO BREACH ORDINANCE BY POSSESSING, IMPORTING OR EXPORTING THESE MEDICINES.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF POSSESSING,
BANNED IMPORTING OR EXPORTING THESE
PROHIBITED MEDICINES OR OTHER
WOULD BE ITEMS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY AFD LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 ON FIRST CONVICTION,
$50,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT ON SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS.
AND
GOVERNMENT
ENDANGERED
IS
DETERMINED
SPECIES TO
UPHOLD TO
HONG KONG'S GOOD IMAGE IN CONSERVATION, MR LAU STRESSED THAT THE CRACK DOWN ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN ENDANGERED SPECIES TRADE.
HE SAID: "DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE AFD HAS INSPECTED MORE THAN 2,000 CHINESE MEDICINE SHOPS FOR SUSPECTED RHINO AND TIGER
CENT PRODUCTS. THIS COVERS MORE THAN 90 PER
OF SUCH SHOPS IN THE
TERRITORY.
/"DURING THE