XN000022-1987-01-23 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1987

MR CHEUNG SAID THAT LAST YEAR THERE WERE AROUND 400 CASES OF BREACHES OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE, INVOLVING LIVE AND STUFFED SPECIMENS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES VALUED AT $1.5 MILLION. THERE WERE 300 CASES IN 1985.

+SOME CASES IN RECENT MONTHS INVOLVED SUCH HIGHLY ENDANGERED SPECIES AS GIANT SALAMANDERS AND SEA TURTLES WHILE QUITE A NUMBER INVOLVED PARROTS WHICH WERE BROUGHT INTO HONG KONG BY TRAVELLERS UNKNOWINGLY,+ HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BUDGERIGAR COCKATIEL AND ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET, ALL PARROTS AND RELATED BIRDS CAME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ORDINANCE IN DECEMBER 1985.

SINCE THEN, PRIOR AUTHORISATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED BEFORE BRINGING ANY OF THESE BIRDS INTO THE TERRITORY.

OTHER CASES IN RECENT MONTHS INVOLVED OWLS, KESTRELS, BUZZARDS, LEOPARD CATS, ASIATIC BONY TONGUE FISH AND STUFFED SPECIMENS OF CROCODILES.

MR CHEUNG EMPHASISED THAT THE IMPORT, EXPORT AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE STRICTLY RESTRICTED AND LICENCES MUST BE APPLIED AND OBTAINED IN ADVANCE FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

VIOLATION OF THE LAW MAY RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 FOR A FIRST OFFENCE AND $10 000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEAT OFFENCE. IN ADDITION, THE SPECIMEN INTERCEPTED WILL BE CONFISCATED.

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