WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994
PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES BILL
MR
OF
FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, GORDON SIU, IN MOVING THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 IN THE LEGISLATIVE TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
COUNCIL
MR PRESIDENT,
I
MOVE THAT THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 BE READ A SECOND TIME.
OF
ENDANGERED
THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) TRADE IN ORDINANCE GIVES EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL
TO HONG KONG IS A PARTY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA.
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
KEEPING WITH THE THIS CONVENTION THROUGH REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVENTION, THIS ORDINANCE REGULATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.
PLANTS
COMMUNITY
ARE
OVER
BRING
THERE IS GROWING CONCERN IN THE INTERNATIONAL
AND MANY SPECIES OF ANIMALS THE RATE AT WHICH ENDANGERED. THERE IS PARTICULAR CONCERN OVER ILLEGAL TRADE IN CERTAIN
AND TIGERS
SOME HIGHLY ENDANGERED SPECIES, SUCH AS RHINOCEROSES, SPECIES OF BEAR, WHICH ARE NOW THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION BECAUSE
FOR
AS PARTS OF THESE ANIMALS FOR THE DEMAND TRADITIONAL MEDICINES.
USE
INGREDIENTS
OF
IN
THAT THE MAXIMUM THE HIGHEST OF WHICH IS A ARE NEGLIGIBLE IN
IT HAS BECOME CLEAR IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE - FINE OF $50,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT COMPARISON WITH THE POTENTIAL PROFITS FROM ILLEGAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.
THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) THE PENALTIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 SEEKS TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY FOR CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL IN AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.
TRADE
ACCORDING
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PENALTIES TO WHETHER THE OFFENCE IS COMMITTED FOR A COMMERCIAL OR NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSE AND WHETHER THE SPECIES INVOLVED IS HIGHLY ENDANGERED.
IT
IS
POSSESSION
OF
AN PROPOSED THAT THE IMPORT, EXPORT OR
SHOULD ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE FOR A COMMERCIAL PURPOSE
THAT THE BILL PROVIDES
WHERE ATTRACT RELATIVELY HIGHER PENALTIES.
SPECIES, THE MAXIMUM SUCH AN OFFENCE INVOLVES A HIGHLY ENDANGERED PENALTY SHOULD BE A FINE OF $5 MILLION AND TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND, SPECIES, A FINE OF WHERE THE OFFENCE INVOLVES A LESS ENDANGERED
LESSER MAXIMUM PENALTIES $500,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR. PROPOSED FOR OFFENCES COMMITTED FOR A NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSE.
ARE
/THE BILL
T