XN000022-1994-01-27 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1994

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES

HONG KONG IS COMMITTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE

PROTECTING FISHERIES, MR FRANK LAU, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

AND

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN ON THE AND PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, MR LAU SAID THE IMPORT, EXPORT POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS WERE REGULATED IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.

OF

THE ORDINANCE GIVES EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES).

"THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY APPROVED THE REPLACEMENT OF

NUMBER OF THE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE UNDER ITS CONTROL A SCHEDULES

OF SPECIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITES REQUIREMENTS, HE SAID.

THE NEW ADDITIONS INCLUDE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR, CERTAIN SPECIES OF BIRDS, ORNAMENTAL PLANTS AND HARDWOOD TREES.

MR LAU SAID THE DETAILED LIST WOULD BE GAZETTED TOMORROW.

"ALSO, IN RESPECT OF TIGER PRODUCTS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO IMPOSE TIGHTER CONTROL.

TO FROM TOMORROW IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE IMPORT OR EXPORT MEDICINES CONTAINING, OR CLAIMING TO CONTAIN, TIGER

INGREDIENTS.

"THIS IS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST OF THE CITES SECRETARIAT THAT MEASURES SHOULD BR TAKEN ΤΟ HALT THE TRADE IN MEDICINES CONTAINING TIGER INGREDIENTS SINCE POPULATIONS OF TIGER ARE AT CRITICALLY

PARTS LOW LEVELS OWING TO POACHING AND SMUGGLING OF TIGER AND DERIVATIVES FOR THE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE MARKET,"

TIGER MEDICINE IS THE SECOND TYPE OF MEDICINE CLAIMING TO CONTAIN INGREDIENTS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CONTROL IN HONG KONG, MR LAU POINTED OUT.

THE ONE ALREADY SUBJECT TO STRINGENT CONTROL IS MEDICINE CONTAINING OR CLAIMING TO CONTAIN RHINO INGREDIENTS.

BR

ALSO, UNDER THE REVISED SCHEDULES, ALL SPECIES OF BEAR WILL BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, THE NEW ADDITION BEING THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. IT IS ALSO SPECIFIED THAT GALL BLADDER AND BILE OF BEARS CONTROLLED.

WILL

BE

то DETER ILLICIT TRADE ON PROHIBITED ENDANGERED

SPECIES, THE

GOVERNMENT INFRINGING

IS CONSIDERING INCREASING THE MAXIMUM PENALTY THE ORDINANCE AND PROVIDING IMPRISONMENT PENALTY FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE.

FOR

EVEN

AT PRESENT, ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF IMPORTING, EXPORTING OR POSSESSING ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $25,000 FIRST CONVICTION, AND $50,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS.

ON

ON

/REVIEWING THE