XN000022-1994-04-22 — Page 26

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FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1994

"DURING THE OPERATIONS, A TOTAL OF 2,234 PACKETS OF MEDICINES CONTAINING OR CLAIMINHG TO CONTAIN RHINO INGREDIENTS, TWO RHINO HORNS AND TWO PIECES OF HORN SCRAP, AS WELL AS SOME 6.31 KG OF CLAIMED HIDE, VALUED AT ABOUT $350,000, WERE SEIZED FROM 145 SHOPS.

"PROSECUTION OF 68. OF THESE CASES HAD BEEN CONCLUDED, RESULTING IN A TOTAL FINE OF $250,300.

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ALSO, IN 46 OF THESE SHOPS INSPECTED, CLAIMED TIGER PARTS (INCLUDING 7.14 KG OF BONE, 175 PIECES OF PENIS AND SIX PAWS) WORTH ABOUT $270,000 WERE SEIZED. SO FAR, 26 CASES OF PROSECUTION WERK COMPLETED, WITH FINES TOTALLING $146,500.

MR LAU BELIEVED THAT THE INCREASED ENFORCEMENT WORK HAD BROUGHT ILLICIT RHINO PRODUCT TRADE UNDER GOOD CONTROL.

"IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE GOVERNMENT'S ENFORCEMENT WORK WILL BE FOCUSING ON TIGER PARTS AND MEDICINES CONTAINING OR CLAIMING ΤΟ CONTAIN TIGER INGREDIENTS.

"CHINESE MEDICINE SHOPS HAD BEEN INFORMED BY LETTERS OF THE NEW CONTROLS WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM APRIL 28. ANOTHER ROUND OF INSPECTIONS OF CHINESE MEDICINE SHOPS HAS BEEN PLANNED IN THE COMING MONTHS AND SHOPS THAT HAD BEEN CHECKED BEFORE WOULD BE VISITED AGAIN."

HE URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO HELP MAKE THE CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS BY REFRAINING TO PURCHASE ANY SUCH ILLEGAL PRODUCTS AND INFORMING THE AFD, POLICE OR CUSTOMS OF ANY SUCH ILLICIT TRADE.

MR LAU REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO CONTINUE ITS PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS AND MAKE THE PUBLIC MORE AWARE OF THE NEED TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.

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TRADE DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER LIAISON GROUP

HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT'S CUSTOMER LIAISON GROUP (CLG) MET FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY (

(FRIDAY).

THE SETTING UP OF THE 30-MEMBER CLG IS AIMED TO PROVIDE FOR A DIRECT AND ON-GOING DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS CUSTOMERS.

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THE

"OUR CUSTOMERS' CONCERNS ARE OUR CONCERNS,' DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR TONY MILLER, SAID AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE CLG.

"THE DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE THE GROUP'S SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK SERIOUSLY AND MAKE GOOD USE OF THE FORUM то BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, HE SAID.

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MEMBERS OF THE CLG, WHO COME FROM 1 MPORT AND EXPORT, MANUFACTURING, SHIPPING, FORWARDING AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES, HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FROM APPLICATIONS FROM COMPANIES REGISTERED WITH DEPARTMENT AND REPRESENT THE MAJOR SECTORS OF ITS CLIENTELE.

THE

/MEETINGS OF