XN000022-1994-10-04 — Page 6

5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1994

"THE DOMESTIC MEASURES OVER POSSESSION ADOPTED BY HONG KONG ARE STRICTER THAN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES) WHICH ONLY REQUESTS MEMBER COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES TO IMPOSE CONTROL OVER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, HE SAID.

"T

THE AFD HAS ALSO TAKEN STEPS TO REGISTER THE OLD STOCK HELD BY TRADERS AND MONITOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE SPECIMENS BY REQUIRING TRADERS TO FILE REGULAR RETURNS ON STOCK. IN ADDITION, ALL LEGALLY LICENSED BEAR CALL BLADDERS ARE TAGGED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

+++

*BY SO DOING, SMUGGLING INTO HONG KONG OF NEW ITEMS CAN BE DETERRED AND PREVENTED.

"HONG KONG'S STRINGENT MEASURES AND EFFORT ON THE CONTROL OF BEAR PARTS FOR MEDICINAL USE HAD BEEN DULY RECOGNISED AT THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE TRADE OF BEAR PARTS FOR MEDICINAL USE HELD IN SEATTLE, UNITED STATES, LAST MONTH," MR CHAN SAID.

"AT THE SYMPOSIUM, AFD SHARED HONG KONG'S INITIATIVES AND EXPERIENCE IN ENFORCING STRICT DOMESTIC MEASURES ON THE CONTROL OF BEAR TRADE WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENT CONSERVATION ORGANISATIONS.

SOME YEAR.

ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, MR CHAN SAID THE AFD HAD INSPECTED 1.080 CHINESE MEDICINAL SHOPS BETWEEN MAY AND SPETEMBER THIS

A TOTAL OF 58 ITEMS CLAIMED OR SUSPECTED BEAR GALL BLADDERS AND 0.32 KILOGRAMS OF CLAIMED OR SUSPECTED BEAR POWDER WERE SEIZED FROM 17 SHOPS IN THESE OPERATIONS.

"THE SEIZED ITEMS CARRIED A MARKET PRICE TAG OF ABOUT $500,000. PROSECUTION WILL BE INITIATED WHEN INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED. OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A FINE AND IMPRISONMENT TERMS IN ADDITION TO MANDATORY FORFEITURE OF GOODS UPON CONVICTION. HEAVIER PENALTIES ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

** FROM THE QUANTITY SEIZED AND THE TIGHT REGISTRATION SYSTEM ADMINISTERED BY AFD, IT IS BELIEVED THAT ILLEGAL TRADE IN THESE ITEMS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN KEPT UNDER STRICT CONTROL, MR CHAN SAID.

APART FROM ENFORCEMENT, AFD'S EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES HAVE ALSO BEEN PLAYING A ROLE IN ENHANCING PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE PROTECTION OF BEARS AND OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES.

MR CHAN URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM PURCHASING BEAR PARTS OTHER THAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THESE ENDANGERED SPECIES.

ANY

HE SAID THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE ITEMS WERE FAKE SINCE THEY COULD NOT BE DISTINGUISHABLE FROM GENUINE ONES BY PHYSICAL INSPECTION. IDENTIFICATION CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH SOPHISTICATED LABORATORY TESTS.

HE CALLED ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY SUSPECTED ILLEGAL SALE OF BEAR GALL BLADDER TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ON TEL 733 2144.

/6