XN000022-1981-04-15 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1981

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BAN ON ANIMAL SOUVENIRS

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RESIDENTS RETURNING TO HONG KONG AFTER VISITS TO CHINA, THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER COUNTRIES WERE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REMINDED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BRING BACK SOUVENIRS OF LIVE OR PRESERVED ANIMALS LISTED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.

THIS ORDINANCE IS THE LOCAL LEGISLATION GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA. THE PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION INCLUDE A FINE OF UP TO $5 000 FOR FIRST OFFENCES AND FORFEITURE OF THE ILLEGAL ARTICLES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THERE HAD BEEN MANY CASES RECENTLY IN WHICH RESIDENTS BROUGHT BACK WITH THEM SOUVENIRS SUCH AS STUFFED SEA TURTLES, CROCODILES, TIGER AND LEOPARD SKINS AND LIVE PANGOLINS,

ALL THESE ANIMALS AND SOME RARE PLANTS, SUCH AS WILD ORCHIDS, CACTUS AND WILD AMERICAN GINSENG ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND ARE PROTECTED BY LAW.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO IMPORT OR POSSESS SUCH ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

DURING THE PAST FOUR MONTHS THERE WERE 45 CASES INVOLVING OFFENCES OF THIS NATURE, MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH BRINING IN STUFFED SEA TURTLES AND CROCODILES FROM THE PHILIPPINES, INDONESIA AND OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.

HOLIDAY HOURS FOR CLINICS *****

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT EIGHT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WILL REMAIN OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS FROM APRIL 17-20.

THEY ARE THE VIOLET PEEL POLYCLINIC AND SHAUKIWAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND THE KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE, YAUMĀTEI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AND ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE

IN KOWLOON- AND THE TSUEN WAN LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC, YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE AND SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ALL OTHER GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND EVENING CLINICS WILL BE CLOSED DURING THIS PERIOD.

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