XN000022-1994-01-21 — Page 27

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1994

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POSSESSING ENDANGERED PLANTS DEFIES LAW

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IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO POSSESS ENDANGERED PLANTS WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

THE REMINDER WAS ISSUED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT, MR CHAN JEE-KEUNG, AFTER A LARGE QUANTITY OF SUSPECTED WILD ORCHIDS WERE SEIZED FROM A NURSERY IN YUEN LONG EARLY THIS MONTH.

UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO POSSESS, IMPORT OR EXPORT ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES, WHETHER ANIMALS OR PLANTS, WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

"FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $25,000 ON THE FIRST OFFENCE AND $50,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR A REPEATED OFFENCE, MR CHAN SAID.

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THE ORDINANCE GIVES EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION.

AT PRESENT, MORE THAN 8,000 SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS, WHETHER ALIVE, DEAD, STUFFED SPECIMEN, PARTS OR DERIVATIVES, ARE LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE.

THE CASE WAS UNCOVERED ON JANUARY 7. ACTING ON INFORMATION, STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT RAIDED A NURSERY IN YUEN LONG AND SEIZED MORE THAN 6,000 PIECES OF SUSPECTED WILD ORCHIDS IN 74 TRAYS.

THIS IS THE LARGEST SEIZURE EVER MADE IN HONG KONG BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SUSPECTED WILD ORCHIDS, BELIEVED TO HAVE SMUGGLED INTO THE TERRITORY FROM SOUTH-WESTERN CHINA.

LUNAR NEW YEAR LIGHTING IN SHA TIN

CHINESE NEW YEAR ILLUMINATIONS WILL BE SWITCHED ON IN SHA TIN THIS SUNDAY (JANUARY 23).

THIS YEAR'S FESTIVE LIGHTING, MADE UP OF 60,000 BULBS, WILL BE ON DISPLAY ALONG SAND MARTIN BRIDGE, LEK YUEN BRIDGE, SHING MUN BRIDGE, TSUI YUNG BRIDGE AND SHA TIN CENTRAL PARK.

THE DISPLAY WILL BE TURNED UP DAILY FROM 6.30 PM то MIDNIGHT BETWEEN JANUARY 23 AND FEBRUARY 8 AND BETWEEN FEBRUARY 13 AND 23. FROM FEBRUARY 9 TO 12 AND ON FEBRUARY

WILL BE SWITCHED ON THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

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/THE FESTIVE