XN000022-1993-07-04 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JULY 4, 1993

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THE BRITISH COUNCIL

EDUCATIONAL COUNSELLING SERVICE

255 HENNESSY ROAD

WAN CHAI

HONG KONG.

FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL 802 1638.

SEPTEMBER 18.

SUITABLE INTERVIEW

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS CANDIDATES WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONE SELECTION IN HONG KONG IN DECEMBER 1993/JANUARY 1994.

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POSSESSION OF SEA TURTLE AN OFFENCE

TWO HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLES RECENTLY SEIZED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) WERE RELEASED BACK TO THE SEA AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CONSERVATION WORK FOR WILD ANIMALS IN HONG KONG.

CONSERVATION OFFICER, DR SO PING-MAN, TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY ΤΟ REMIND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT SEA TURTLES WERE ENDANGERED SPECIES FACING EXTINCTION AND WERE PROTECTED UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE IN HONG KONG.

HE SAID: "THE IMPORT, EXPORT OR POSSESSION OF SEA TURTLE WHETHER ALIVE, DEAD, STUFFED SPECIMEN, PARTS OR DERIVATIVES, WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE ISSUED IN ADVANCE BY THE AFD IS AN OFFENCE."

ΤΟ A OF

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, AN OFFENDER IS LIABLE ON CONVICTION MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 AND IN CASE OF A REPEATED OFFENCE A FINE $50,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

CURRENTLY, OVER 9,000 SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS INCLUDING PANGOLINS, MONKEYS + EAGLES AND HAWKS, OWLS, CROCODILES, GIANT SALAMANDER AND WILD ORCHIDS, ARE LISTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE FOR PROTECTION.

DR SO CALLED ON LOCAL RESIDENTS OR SEAMEN NOT TO BRING IN OR OUT OF HONG KONG ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES AT ALL TIME UNLESS ALL IMPORT AND EXPORT REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPILED WITH.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE FAUNA CONSERVATION SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON TEL 733 2122.

THE SEIZURE OF THE TWO TURTLES WERE MADE SUBSEQUENT TO REPORT TO THE POLICE BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY то ANIMALS THAT SEA TURTLES WERE SEEN IN A FISH STALL IN SAI KUNG.

THE TWO TURTLES WERE ABOUT 30 AND 45 CM LONG AND WEIGHTED 2 AND 4 KG RESPECTIVELY. AS THEY WERE IN GOOD HEALTH CONDITIONS, THEY WERE RELEASED BACK TO THE SEA AT HOI HA WAN EARLIER IN THE WEEK.