XN000022-1988-03-18 — Page 17

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FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1988

REPTILES (OTHER

200 ANIMALS

$60

$20

THAN TURTLES

FOR FOOD)

RODENTS AND

50 ANIMALS

$60

920

LAGOMORPHS

DOGS AND CATS

1 ANIMAL

$60

$20

TURTLES FOR FOOD

200 KG

$60

$20

OTHER ANIMALS

NOT SPECIFIED ABOVE

1 ANIMAL

$60

$20

ANNOUNCING THESE DETAILS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AGRICULTURE) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARMENT, DR THOMAS YIP, SAID INCOME FROM THE EXISTING FEES CHARGED DID NOT COVER THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES.

"TO REDUCE THE SHORTFALL BETWEEN FEE INCOME AND THE COST OF THE SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT, AFTER EXAMINING CAREFULLY THE CURRENT FEE LEVELS WITH DUE CONSIDERATION OF THE NATURE AND SCALE OF BUSINESSES INVOLVED, DECIDED TO PHASE IN THE INCREASES OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS STARTING FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

H

HE SAID THE INTENTION WAS TO RECOVER THE FULL COSTS BY 1990.

DR YIP SAID THE PERMITS/SPECIAL PERMITS FOR THE REMOVAL OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS FROM A VESSEL OR AIRCRAFT WERE HITHERTO ISSUED FREE OF CHARGE.

**AS THE SERVICE INVOLVES ADMINISTRATIVE WORK AS WELL AS PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF IMPORTING CONSIGNMENT, IT WAS DECIDED THAT A FEE SHOULD BE CHARGED TO RECOVER THE COST, HE SAID.

"

"THE PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENING THE PUBLIC

HEALTH (ANIMALS AND

BIRDS REGULATIONS WOULD ALSO BE INCREASED FROM THE SANE DATE FROM $1,000 TO $2,000 SO AS TO DETER WOULD BE OFFENDERS, DR YIP ADDED.

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