XN000022-1989-05-19 — Page 8

7

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1989

INCREASE THE

IN ADDITION, IT SEEKS TO

MAXIMUM FINES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE LAW FIVEFOLD TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY DETERRENT,

ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS! OF TI Z AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR K.C. IU, SAID ONE OF THE MAIN PROVISIONS THE BILL AIMED AT EXTENDING THE PROHIBITION ON THE TRADE RHINOCEROS TO COVER ANY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS CONTAINING ITS INGREDIENTS.

OF IN

RHINOCEROS IS AT PRESENT CLASSIFIED AS AN APPENDIX | SPECIES BY THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES). ITS IMPORT WAS BANNED IN 1979 AND THE BAN WAS EXTENDED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR TO COVER THE INTERNAL SALE OF ITS

PRODUCTS.

•

'RHINOCEROS DERIVATIVES ARE TRADITIONALLY USED IN CERTAIN CHINESE PATENT MEDICINES. ΤΟ FULFILL OUR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATION UNDER CITES, WE SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO PROHIBIT THE TRADE IN SUCH MEDICINES, MR IU SAID.

"I

"IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT IT 13 IMPOSSIBLE то PROVE ANALYTICALLY THE PRESENCE OF RHINOCEROS INGREDIENTS IN MEDICINES, THE BILL WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR POSSESS MEDICINE WHICH CONTAINS, OR 18 CLAIMED OR REPRESENTED TO CONTAIN, ANY RHINOCEROS INGREDIENTS.

HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS PROHIBITION SHOULD NOT BE CONCEIVED AS A MEASURE ΤΟ CONTROL CHINESE MEDICINES, WHICH WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE.

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES ΤΟ INCREASE THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR BREACHING THE LICENSING CONTROL FROM $5,000 TO $25,000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE AND FROM $10,000 TO $50,000 FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE WITH THE JAIL SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS FOR THE LATTER REMAINING UNCHANGED.

"THE EXISTING MAXIMUM FINES WERE FIXED IN 1976. COMPARED WITH THE VALUE OF GOODS WHICH ARE LIABLE TO SEIZURE, THEY ARE NOW тоо LOW TO PROVIDE A PROPER DETERRENT, HE SAID.

H

MR IU POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL ALSO INTRODUCED ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TO CONTROL ENDANGERED SPECIES IN TRANSIT, TO PRESCRIBE THE IDENTIFICATION OF INCOMPLETE SPECIMENS AS COURT EVIDENCE, TO MAKE THE FURNISHING OF FALSE INFORMATION AN OFFENCE, AND ΤΟ STRENGTHEN THE POWERS OF SEARCH OF AUTHORISED OFFICERS.

L

"THE EXISTING LEGISLATION DOES NOT CONTROL ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES IN TRANSIT. TO GUARD AGAINST POSSIBLE ABUSE, THE BILL WILL AMEND THE TRANSIT PROVISIONS

IN THE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE TRANSIT SHIPMENTS TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A LICENCE, PERMIT, CERTIFICATE OR OTHER DOCUMENT FOR EXPORT, ISSUED BY A RELEVANT AUTHORITY OF THE EXPORTING COUNTRY. HE SAID.

"IN THE CASE OF A LIVE ENDANGERED ANIMAL IN TRANSIT, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES HAS TO BE NOTIFIED AT LEAST THREE WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO ITS ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG.

/MR IU