7
The survey covered all authorised institutions in Hong Kong, which included 178 licensed banks, 62 restricted licence banks and 136 deposit taking companies. Several financial institutions which are major securities firms or investment houses were also invited to participate in the survey. A total of 26 countries participated in the global survey. BIS will also release preliminary global results today and final results in 1996.
Further information about the survey results will be contained in the February 1996 issue of the HKMA Quarterly Bulletin.
(1)
All turnover and stock figures are adjusted to eliminate double counting between institutions in Hong Kong, unless otherwise specified.
End
AFD seizes endangered species
Officers of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, acting on information, raided two market stalls in Kowloon last week and seized a number of endangered species.
During the raid on Thursday, a market stall in Kowloon was searched. As a result, two bear paws, three live giant salamanders and two pangolin carcasses were seized.
On Friday, the department's officers conducted another raid and seized one live pangolin, one live giant salamander, five live owls, three otter carcasses, two pangolin carcasses and 1.6 kilograms of pangolin scales. Investigations into these two cases are continuing. It is believed that the items are for food purposes.
A Conservation Officer of the department, Dr So Ping-man, said among the seized items, bear paws and giant salamanders were listed on Appendix I (highly endangered species) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the rest were on Appendix II (endangered species).
Dr So said people convicted of illegal possession of highly endangered species items for commercial purpose would be liable to a maximum fine of $5 million plus two years' imprisonment, and for endangered species items, a $500,000 fine plus one year's imprisonment.