XN000022-1994-09-13 — Page 14

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1994

IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT WHILE THE WEATHER AND CLIMATE ALWAYS AFFECT THE CONCENTRATIONS OF POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR, THE ONLY SURE WAY OF REDUCING THE LEVELS IS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM THE MAN-MADB SOURCES.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE AIR QUALITY REPORT AND OTHER AIR QUALITY ISSUES, PLEASE CONTACT PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER MR RAYMOND LEUNG ON TEL 594 6401.

FLORIDA CONFERENCE DISCUSSES TRADE CONTROL OF SAIGA AND SWIFTLET

* * *

THE CONTROL OVER IMPORT AND EXPORT OF SAIGA AND SWIFTLET WILL BE DISCUSSED AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE LATER THIS YEAR, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR FRANK LAU SIN-PANG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE HONG KONG NEW TERRITORIES LIONS CLUB DINNER RECEPTION, MR LAU SAID THE NINTH CONFERENCE OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES) WOULD BE CONVENED IN FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, IN NOVEMBER YEAR.

AMONG AGENDA ITEMS IS THE CONTROL OVER THE OF SAIGA AND SWIFTLET, HE SAID.

THIS

IMPORT AND EXPORT

WILL BE BROUGHT ENDORSED BY THE THEIR NUMBERS IN THE

"THE TRADING OF THESE TWO ENDANGERED SPECIES UNDER INTERNATIONAL CONTROL IF THE PROPOSAL IS CITES CONFERENCE, THEREBY HELPING TO MAINTAIN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, MR LAU SAID,

HE POINTED OUT THAT CITES GUIDELINES HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN HONG KONG FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT IN 1976 OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.

UNDER

HE STRESSED THAT THROUGH THE ORDINANCE HONG KONG HAD ADOPTED STRICTER MEASURES THAN REQUIRED

CITES, INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT OF APPLICATION FOR IMPORT FOR CITES APPENDIX II SPECIES.

PERMIT

AND POSSESSION PERMIT

IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 5,800 IMPORT AND POSSESSION PERMITS HAD BEEN ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT. ABOUT 3,000 INSPECTIONS OF SHOPS AND GOODS WERE CONDUCTED, RESULTING IN 340 CASES OF INVESTIGATIONS OR PROSECUTIONS.

HE SAID AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION LIAISON GROUP WAS SET UP IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT OF CONTROLS OF TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES.

THE

/CONVENED BY