XN000022-1976-08-07 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1976

AS FAR AS ANIMAL PARTS ARE CONCERNED, THE INCLUSION OF FUR SKINS OF TIGERS, LEOPARDS AND SIMILAR FELINE (CAT) SPECIES IN THE PROTECTED LIST IS AGAIN UNLIKELY TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT LOCAL PRODUCTION AND EXPORT. SUCH FELINE FUR SKINS ARE NOT USED TO ANY SIGNIFICANT DEGREE AND FURTHERMORE, THE VERY LIMITED MANUFACTURE. OF GARMENTS FROM THE FUR SKINS OF WILD ANIMALS HAS BEEN DWINDLING RAPIDLY BECAUSE OF THE SCARCITY OF SUPPLY AND RISING COSTS.

HONG KONG'S FUR SKIN EXPORT WENT ALMOST ENTIRELY TO JAPAN, GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES WHICH ARE ALL SIGNATORIES OF THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION AND WOULD THEREFORE NOT ACCEPT IMPORTS OF PRODUCTS MADE FROM THE FUR OF ENDANGERED SPECIES EXCEPT COVERED BY AN EXPORT LICENCE.

FUR SKINS OF ANIMALS ON THE PROTECTED LIST BROUGHT IN AS PERSONAL OR HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS, SUCH AS FUR COATS AND RUGS, ARE EXEMPTED FROM CONTROL.

SKINS OF CROCODILES, SNAKES AND LIZARDS HAVE ALSO BEEN EXEMPTED FROM CONTROL FOR THE PRESENT BECAUSE THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL TRADE INVOLVED AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH PRECISELY THE EXTENT THAT THESE SKINS COME FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES.

HONG KONG'S IVORY TRADE, WHICH WAS ESTIMATED AT $64 MILLION IN EXPORTS LAST YEAR, IS ALSO UNAFFECTED BECAUSE THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT, THE MAIN SOURCE OF UNMANUFACTURED IVORY, HAS NOT YET BEEN LISTED BY THE CONVENTION AS AN ENDANGERED SPÈCIES.

AS FOR ENDANGERED BIRDS, THE IMPORT OF OWLS, EAGLES AND OTHER BIRDS OF PREY, WHICH TOTALLED SOME 16,500 LAST YEAR, HAS BEEN BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. THE IMPORT OF COMMON SPECIES OF PARROTS AND PARAKEETS, POPULARLY KEPT IN HONG KONG AS PETS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. LAST YEAR, 4,975 RING-NECKED PARAKEETS, 153,060 BUDGERIGARS AND 41,856 WHITE-EYES WERE IMPORTED AS PETS.

AS FAR AS PLANTS ARE CONCERNED, THE LARGE VARIETY OF WILD ORCHARDS FOUND IN HONG KONG'S COUNTRYSIDE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UNDER PROTECTION AND THEIR EXPORT WILL BE SUBJECT TO LICENCE. CULTIVATED PLANTS, HOWEVER, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CONTROL.

WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE NEW LAW, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISING SPECIALISTS IN THIS FIELD WILL BE SET UP TO ADVISE THE DIRCTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

A PAMPHLET IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, EXPLAINING THE LEGISLATION AND CONTAINING A LIST OF THE PROTECTED SPECIES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED IN HONG KONG WILL BE DISTRIBUTED SHORTLY FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE TRADE AND THE PUBLIC.

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