XN000022-1989-05-31 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1989

TASK FORCE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRADING IN IVORY

*

A

SPECIAL THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL SET UP ΤΟ

THE INVESTIGATE FORCE

ILLEGAL AND SUPPRESS

IMPORTATION EXPORTATION OF IVORY THROUGH HONG KONG FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

TASK AND

PLAYED AN A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE CUSTOMS HAD

SPECIES INCLUDING IVORY ACTIVE PART IN THE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED IN THE PAST, WITH 42 SEIZURES OF IVORY TUSK AND IVORY PRODUCTS MADE AT ENTRY POINTS IN 1988.

KONG WAS MORE

"HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE RECENT ALLEGATION THAT HONG A CENTRE OF THE ILLEGAL IVORY TRADE. IT WAS NECESSARY TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE TO VERIFY THE ACCUSATION AND STEP UP ENFORCEMENT ACTION, HE SAID.

"

OF THE HEAD OF WITH THE

THE TASK FORCE WILL WORK UNDER THE DIRECTION THE CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BUREAU AND IN CLOSE CO-ORDINATION AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

ANY ILLEGAL IMPORT OR EXPORT OF IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO

THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT IVORY CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $50,000 AND YEARS.

ABOUT THE ILLEGAL CUSTOMS

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE INFORMATION

THE DUTY OFFICER OF THE IVORY TRADE ARE URGED TO CONTACT INVESTIGATION BUREAU ON TEL. 5-8521437.

0

DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM

THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET TOMORROW (THURSDAY} TO DISCUSS SUGGESTIONS MADE BY 10 MEMBERS TO RESOLVE THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE AND BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM.

AMONG THE SUGGESTIONS IS THE SCRAPPING THE FIRST PORT OF ASYLUM POLICY IF NO SOLUTIONS ARE FOUND IN THE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES IN GENEVA,

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WILL ALSO

DISCUSS A PROPOSAL BY THE COMPREHENSIVE CLEARANCCE OF

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE TO LANUCH A UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS IN SHAM SHUI PO.

IN ADDITION, THEY WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON ANTI-SMOKING PROPOSALS AND A REVIEW BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ON THE CONTROL, LICENSING AND SAFETY OF LOCAL CRAFT.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

OF THE

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD. WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE CHEUNG SHA WAN COMMUNITY CENTRE. 55 FAT CHEUNG

STREET.

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