XN000022-1984-04-15 — Page 3

SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 1984

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WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORTS PAY OFF

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

AS A RESULT, THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS AGAINST VIOLATIONS OF CONSERVATION LEGISLATION DECLINED FROM THE AVERAGE 200 A YEAR BETWEEN 1980 AND 1982 TO 52 LAST YEAR.

+THIS DECLINE IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE HEAVY FINES IMPOSED AND THE INCREASING AWARENESS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING CONSERVATION OF RARE SPECIES,+ SAID MR S.P. LAU, SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT.

+FINES AVERAGING $300 FOR IMPORTED SOUVENIR ITEMS HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DETERRENT. BUT ADDITIONALLY PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ARE REGULARLY LAUNCHED AND PRESS RELEASES ISSUED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE SUBJECT, HE SAID.

+POACHING AND THE LOSS OF HABITAT HAVE THREATENED A NUMBER OF SPECIES TO THE POINT OF EXTINCTION IN SOME COUNTRIES PREVIOUSLY RICH IN WILDLIFE AND THERE HAS BEEN GROWING WORLDWIDE CONCERN ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN RECENT YEARS, MR LAU SAID,

+TO BE EFFECTIVE, CONSERVATION HAS TO BE AN INTERNATIONALLY CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT, + HE ADDED.

THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES), WHICH IS ENFORCED AT INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSINGS AND TO WHICH OVER 80 COUNTRIES ARE SIGNATORIES.

+ALTHOUGH HONG KONG ITSELF IS NOT RICH IN WILDLIFE, THE LARGE VOLUME OF TRADE IN WILDLIFE PRODUCTS PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG HAS MADE IT IMPORTANT IN THE WORK OF THE CONSERVATION OF RARE SPECIES,+ MR LAU EXPLAINED.

THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE IS THE LOCAL LEGISLATION GIVING EFFECT TO THE CITES.

+ THE POSSESSION, IMPORT AND EXPORT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES LISTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE WITHOUT AUTHORISATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES IS A CONTRAVENTION OF THE LAW, + MR LAU SAID.

LICENSING POLICY FOLLOWS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CONVENTION AND THE ISSUE OF AN IMPORT LICENCE REQUIRES THAT SHIPMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A VALID PERMIT GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE EXPORTING COUNTRY.

+ IN CASE OF A LIVING SPECIMEN, IT SHOULD BE SHIPPED IN A MANNER TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF INJURY, + HE SAID.

/THE LAW