XN000022-1987-05-08 — Page 17

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1987

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RARE ANIMALS FLOWN TO PEKING

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TWENTY-TWO ENDANGERED SPECIES WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) FLOWN TO CHINA TO JOIN THE BREEDING COLONIES IN THE BEIJING ENDANGERED ANIMALS BREEDING CENTRE.

THESE INCLUDE SEVEN RHESUS MONKEYS, FOUR BURMESE PYTHONS, TWO FISCHER'S LOVEBIRDS, EIGHT DERBYAN PARAKEETS AND A YOUNG ASIATIC BLACK BEAR WHICH WAS DISCOVERED AND CAPTURED AT THE MUK WU VILLAGE IN TA KWU LING IN EARLY MARCH.

ALSO FLYING OUT WITH THE LIVE SPECIES WAS A PIECE OF GIANT PANDA SKIN SEIZED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.

THEY ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE WHICH ENFORCES THE SPIRIT OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES).

BOTH HONG KONG AND CHINA ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CITES UNDER WHICH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED WILD BIRDS, ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

AT A BRIEF CEREMONY THIS MORNING, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHER I ES DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) MR K.C. IU, HANDED OVER THE ENDANGERED ANIMALS TO THE HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE OF CHINA'S ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA IMPORT AND EXPORT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, DR EDGAR LIONG.

+TODAY'S OCCASION REFLECTS OUR CLOSER CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN THE WORLDWIDE EFFORT TO SAVE RARE SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION, MR IU SAID.

THIS IS THE EIGHTH CONSIGNMENT OF LIVING ENDANGERED ANIMALS TRANSPORTED TO CHINA SINCE 1984. THE PREVIOUS SEVEN CONSIGNMNETS INVOLVED 101 RARE ANIMALS INCLUDING AN ASIATIC BROWN BEAR, AN ASIATIC BLACK BEAR, SEVEN PYTHONS, FIVE CROCODILES, 52 MONKEYS, 29 GIANT SALAMANDERS AND TWO SERPENT EAGLES.

MR IU SAID THAT THESE SPECIES CAME INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT OF STRICT ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN CONTROLLING UNAUTHORISED IMPORT OF RARE ANIMALS OR BIRDS OR THEIR PARTS AND DERIVATIVES.

HE SAID THAT APART FROM THE IMPORT RESTRICTION, IT WAS ALSO ILLEGAL TO POSSESS OR EXPORT ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT LICENCES ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE MAY LEAD TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 FOR A FIRST OFFENCE, AND $10 000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE, MR IU ADDED,

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