XN000022-1976-06-18 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1976

PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND PLANTS

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DRAFT LEGISLATION IS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) WHICH PROPOSES TO EXTEND CONTROLS TO THE TRADE IN SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION. THIS IS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA WHICH HAS SO FAR BEEN RATIFIED BY MANY OF OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES AND OTHERS WITH WHOM WE TRADE.

THE CONTROLS WILL ALSO BE EXTENDED TO THE PARTS OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS, BUT IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG THEY WILL NOT APPLY TO THE TRADE IN REPTILE SKINS AND IVORY.

THE DRAFT LEGISLATION IS CONTAINED IN THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) BILL, 1976, WHICH IF APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WILL REPEAL AND REPLACE THE PRESENT ANIMALS AND BIRDS (RESTRICTION OF IMPORTATION AND POSSESSION) ORDINANCE.

COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSALS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PRESENT BILL AND EXISTING LEGISLATION IS THAT IT WILL EXTEND CONTROLS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES OF PLANTS MOLLUSCS, REPTILES AND ANIMAL PARTS. THE LIST OF LIVE ANIMALS TO BE PROTECTED IS EXTENDED, AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE ANY PROTECTED ANIMAL WHICH IS BORN IN HONG KONG. CULTIVATED PLANTS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO CONTROLS.

THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING THE IMPORT AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES BY LICENCE WILL CONTINUE, BUT EXPORTS WILL ALSO REQUIRE LICENCES, IN GENERAL, LICENCES TO IMPORT WILL ONLY BE ISSUED WHEN THE EXPORTING COUNTRY ISSUES AN EXPORT LICENCE.

HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID AS FAR AS THE SKINS OF CROCODILES, SNAKES AND LIZARDS WERE CONCERNED ALTHOUGH THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE, AN ORDER WILL BE MADE UNDER THE LEGISLATION EXCLUDING THESE ITEMS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL. THERE IS A

SUBSTANTIAL TRADE CONCERNED WITH THESE ITEMS AND IT WOULD BE TOO DIFFICULT TO BRING THEM UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE TIME BEING.

THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT, WHICH IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF UNMANUFACTURED IVORY, IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE DRAWN UP UNDER THE CONVENTION, AND TRADE IN IVORY WILL NOT, THEREFORE BE AFFECTED BY THE BILL.

ONE ANIMAL WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE PROTECTED LIST IS THE PANGOLIN. IN ANY CASE, THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE IMPORTS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING THE PANGOLIN, FROM CHINA AND IN 1975 ONLY SEVEN PANGOLINS WERE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG. UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION, OTHER PROTECTED SPECIES INCLUDE TIGER, LEOPARD AND SIMILAR FELINE (SPOTTED CAT) SPECIES AND THEIR FURS.

/FUR SKINS