XN000022-1988-09-08 — Page 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1988

ALSO LEAVING FOR CHINA THIS MORNING WERE 18 BURMESE PYTHONS WHICH WOULD BE CARED FOR BY THE CANTON OFFICE OF CHINA'S ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA IMFORT AND EXPORT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE.

THESE ANIMALS 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 CITES, UNDER WHICH THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CONSERVE ENDANGERED BIRDS, ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

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

SPEAKING AFTER THE CEREMONY, MR IU

* SAID:

TODAY'S OCCASION MARKS A FURTHER STEP FORWARD IN OUR LONG-TERM CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN THE WORLD EFFORT ΤΟ SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION.'

HE SAID THE RARE ANIMALS INVOLVED IN THE EXERCISE CAME INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT OF STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF HONG KONG'S CONSERVATION AND ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS.

MR I POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL то IMPORT, EXPORT OR POSSESS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

OFFENDERS WOULD BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 FOR A FIRST OFFENCE AND $10,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE. IN ADDITION, THE SPECIMENS WOULD BE FORFEITED, HE ADDED.

TODAY'S CONSIGNMENTS WERE THE 16TH AND 17TH BATCHES OF LIVING ENDANGERED SPECIES TRANSPORTED TO CHINA SINCE 1984.

THE PREVIOUS 15 CONSIGNMENTS INVOLVED 225 RARE ANIMALS, INCLUDING BEARS, PYTHONS, CROCODILES, GIANT SALAMANDERS AND SERPENT EAGLES.

SINCE 1984, 141 LIVING RARE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN SENT TO SUCH COUNTRIES AS MALAYSIA, UNITED KINGDOM, THAILAND, UNITED STATES, WEST GERMANY AND DENMARK.

THESE ANIMALS INCLUDED ASIATIC BONY TONGUE FISH, MARMOSET AND SLOW LORIS.

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