XN000022-1985-08-13 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1985

THERE WAS GROWING CONCERN WORLDWIDE ABOUT THE CONSERVATION FTIGERS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ENDANGERED ANIMALS.

DESPITE REPEATED APPEALS AND PUBLICITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMPORTS OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS CONTINUED TO INCREASE.

DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, THERE WERE 282 CASES, REPRESENTING A FOUR-FOLD INCREASE OVER THE 67 CASES FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

THE IMPORTED SPECIES INVOLVED IN THESE CASES INCLUDED OWLS, BUZZARDS, KESTRELS, PANGOLINS AND ITEMS SUCH AS STUFFED SPECIMENS OF SEA TURTLES AND CROCODILES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID HE HOPED THAT HEAVY PENALTIES WOULD DETER PEOPLE FROM BREACHING THE LAW.

+THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10 000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE,+ HE WARNED.

STUDENTS COMPETE FOR INTER-DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

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THE INTER-DISTRICT STUDENT TEAM CHAMPION AWARD COMPETITION HAS GENERATED KEEN COMPETITION AMONG 19 QUALIFYING TEAMS, WHO HAVE EACH SUBMITTED A SOCIAL PROJECT STUDY ABOUT THEIR OWN DISTRICT FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE FINAL ROUNDS.

THE COMPETITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF '85 YOUTH FESTIVAL TO COINCIDE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (IYY).

THE COMPETITION IS AIMED AT SELECTING THE MOST OUTSTANDING STUDENT TEAM WITH QUALITIES IN LEADERSHIP, ORGANISING ABILITY, CREATIVITY, SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE, VITALITY AND TEAM WORK.

EACH SOCIAL PROJECT PROVIDED AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT TOGETHER WITH PROPOSALS TO SOLVE VARIOUS PROBLEMS.

ADJUDICATORS FOR THE SOCIAL PROJECTS WERE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MRS RITA FANS DR ANTONY YEH OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY; MR RAYMOND WONG OF TVB MR HO CHI-LEUNG OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT; AND A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR GREGORY LEUNG.

/IMPRESSEL BI