XN000022-1994-11-09 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994

PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES BILL

MR

OF

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, GORDON SIU, IN MOVING THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 IN THE LEGISLATIVE TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

COUNCIL

MR PRESIDENT,

I

MOVE THAT THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 BE READ A SECOND TIME.

OF

ENDANGERED

THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) TRADE IN ORDINANCE GIVES EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL

TO HONG KONG IS A PARTY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

KEEPING WITH THE THIS CONVENTION THROUGH REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVENTION, THIS ORDINANCE REGULATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

PLANTS

COMMUNITY

ARE

OVER

BRING

THERE IS GROWING CONCERN IN THE INTERNATIONAL

AND MANY SPECIES OF ANIMALS THE RATE AT WHICH ENDANGERED. THERE IS PARTICULAR CONCERN OVER ILLEGAL TRADE IN CERTAIN

AND TIGERS

SOME HIGHLY ENDANGERED SPECIES, SUCH AS RHINOCEROSES, SPECIES OF BEAR, WHICH ARE NOW THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION BECAUSE

FOR

AS PARTS OF THESE ANIMALS FOR THE DEMAND TRADITIONAL MEDICINES.

USE

INGREDIENTS

OF

IN

THAT THE MAXIMUM THE HIGHEST OF WHICH IS A ARE NEGLIGIBLE IN

IT HAS BECOME CLEAR IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE - FINE OF $50,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT COMPARISON WITH THE POTENTIAL PROFITS FROM ILLEGAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) THE PENALTIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 SEEKS TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY FOR CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL IN AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.

TRADE

ACCORDING

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PENALTIES TO WHETHER THE OFFENCE IS COMMITTED FOR A COMMERCIAL OR NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSE AND WHETHER THE SPECIES INVOLVED IS HIGHLY ENDANGERED.

IT

IS

POSSESSION

OF

AN PROPOSED THAT THE IMPORT, EXPORT OR

SHOULD ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHOUT A LICENCE FOR A COMMERCIAL PURPOSE

THAT THE BILL PROVIDES

WHERE ATTRACT RELATIVELY HIGHER PENALTIES.

SPECIES, THE MAXIMUM SUCH AN OFFENCE INVOLVES A HIGHLY ENDANGERED PENALTY SHOULD BE A FINE OF $5 MILLION AND TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND, SPECIES, A FINE OF WHERE THE OFFENCE INVOLVES A LESS ENDANGERED

LESSER MAXIMUM PENALTIES $500,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR. PROPOSED FOR OFFENCES COMMITTED FOR A NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSE.

ARE

/THE BILL

T