XN000022-1976-09-06 — Page 7

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1976

SIX BURMESE PYTHONS RELEASED

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OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAVE RELEASED SIX BURMESE PYTHONS IN REMOTE PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION ORDINANCE ON JANUARY 23 THIS YEAR.

THE ORDINANCE GIVES FULL PROTECTION TO THIS TYPE OF SNAKE AND IT IS AN OFFENCE TO TRAP, TO CATCH OR TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A BURMESE PYTHON.

TWO OF THE RELEASED PYTHONS WERE FORFEITED AFTER A MAN HAD PLEADED GUILTY IN COURT TO A CHARGE OF POSSESSION OF PYTHONS AND THE OTHER FOUR WERE GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR DISPOSAL AFTER BEING CAUGHT NEAR HUMAN HABITATIONS.

PYTHONS ARE NOW FURTHER PROTECTED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE AND IT IS AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR TO BE IN POSSESSION OF ANY SPECIES OF PYTHON WITHOUT A PERMIT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

THE BURMESE PYTHON, THE ONLY PYTHON WHICH IS INDIGENOUS TO HONG KONG, IS EASILY RECOGNISABLE BY ITS INTRICATE COLOUR PATTERN OF BROWN AND PALE STRAW-YELLOW. IT IS A NON-VENOMOUS SNAKE, AND IS NOT HARMFUL TO MAN. IT FEEDS MOSTLY ON RATS AND OTHER SMALL MAMMALS, THOUGH OCCASIONALLY IT EATS CHICKENS.

ANYONE FINDING A PYTHON SHOULD LEAVE IT ALONE. IF IT IS NEAR HUMAN HABITATION OR SUSPECTED OF TAKING CHICKENS A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OR THE PEST CONTROL UNIT OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO WILL ARRANGE FOR ITS REMOVAL.

LADY MACLEHOSE CENTRE SUMMER PROGTMÆMME BENEFITS

OVER 2,000 CHILDREN ******

LADY MACLEHOSE TODAY (MONDAY) SAID THAT SHE IS CONFIDENT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES HAVE DEVELOPED SELF-CONFIDENCE, NEW INTERESTS AND ABOVE ALL A CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE,

SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE SUMMER PROGRAMME OF THE SING KUNG HUI LADY MACLEHOSE CENTRE, LADY MACLEHOSE NOTED THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN BY COMING FORWARD TO HELP ORGANISE THIS YEAR'S SUMMER PROGRAMME.

AS A RESULT, SHE SAID, MORE THAN 2,000 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ELDERLY RESIDENTS OF NORTH KWAI CHUNG HAVE BENEFITTED.

LADY MACLEHOSE WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO OBSERVE THE WAYS IN WHICH THE CENTRE IS SEEKING TO MEET THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTH KWAI CHUNG.

THE ACTIVITIES, WHICH IT HAS ORGANISED, CATER FOR A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS AND DIFFERING AGE GROUPS, SHE ADDED.