XN000022-1985-08-13 — Page 10

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1985

USD WARNS NOT TO TRANSPORT FOOD IN THE OPEN

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THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY WARNED FOOD MERCHANTS, TRANSPORT OPERATORS, AND DELIVERY PERSONNEL NOT TO TRANSPORT FOOD IN THE OPEN.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT DURING A TWO-WEEK BLITZ WHICH ENDED LAST SATURDAY, 183 FOOD OPERATORS WERE PROSECUTED BY THE HEALTH STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR CARRYING FOOD IN THE OPEN.

+EXPOSURE OF FOOD, SUCH AS ROASTED PRODUCTS, DRESS POULTRY AND MEAT, DURING TRANSPORTATION CAN RESULT IN THE DETERIORATION OF THEIR QUALITIES BECAUSE OF THE DUST AND VERMIN WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED, HE SAID.

+UNDER THE FOOD BUSINESS BY-LAWS, OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000 AND THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT,+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THE TRADES CONCERNED TO ENSURE THAT ALL FOOD TO BE TRANSPORTED MUST FIRST BE HYGIENICALLY WRAPPED OR PUT INTO SUITABLE CONTAINERS ADDING THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE PROSECUTION ACTION WHERE NECESSARY.

PUBLIC WARNED NOT TO BRING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) REPEATED ITS WARNING THAT IMPORTATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE WAS AN OFFENCE.

THIS WARNING FOLLOWED TWO RECENT COURT CASES IN WHICH ONE MAN WAS FINED $5 000 FOR ILLEGALLY BRINGING INTO HONG KONG A TIGER SKIN AND ANOTHER MAN WAS FINED $1 200 FOR IMPORTING TEN KESTRELS WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE.

THE IMPORTED ITEMS WERE CONFISCATED AND THE BIRDS WERE LATER RELEASED.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 WAS IMPOSED ON THE FIRST OFFENDER BECAUSE OF THE DWINDLING NUMBERS OF TIGERS AND BECAUSE CERTAIN SPECIES WERE CLOSE TO EXTINCTION.

THERE WAS

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