XN000022-1994-11-13 — Page 10

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1994

RESTAURANTS URGED NOT TO SERVE DISHES OF ENDANGERED SPECIES

*

LOCAL RESTAURANTS ARE REMINDED NOT TO SERVE DISHES PROHIBITED ENDANGERED SPECIES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

OF

AND

ISSUING THE REMINDER TODAY (SUNDAY), THE AGRICULTURE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S (AFD) ACTING SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER MR CHAN JEE-KEUNG ALSO URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC то REFRAIN FROM ORDERING THESE DISHES.

MR CHAN SAID: "IN PAST YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN REPORTS ALLEGING THAT SOME RESTAURANTS IN HONG KONG OFFERED DISHES OF ENDANGERED SPECIES TO CUSTOMERS, PARTICULARLY WHEN WINTER WAS APPROACHING."

HE REITERATED THAT IT WAS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE TO SELL OR POSSESS ANY ENDANGERED ITEMS ILLEGALLY.

THE CONTROL ALSO APPLIES TO ANY OBJECT THAT IS CLAIMED, OR HELD OUT BY ANY PERSON OR BY ADVERTISEMENT TO BE A CONTROLLED SPECIES.

OF

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE $25,000, AND ON SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS A $50,000 FINE PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

PROPOSALS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE PENALTIES SO AS TO SERVE A MORE EFFECTIVE DETERRENT AGAINST ILLEGAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES...

CONTROLLED SPECIES INCLUDING CROCODILE MEAT, PANGOLIN MEAT, BIRDS OF PREY AND GIANT SALAMANDER MIGHT SOMETIMES BE OFFERED ILLEGALLY FOR FOOD PURPOSE.

OWLS,

RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE THEREFORE REMINDED THAT, UNLESS THEY COULD OBTAIN A LICENCE IN ADVANCE FROM AFD, THEY SHOULD NOT SERVE ANY DISH CONTAINING OR CLAIMING

CONTAIN ANY PART OF A SPECIES CONTROLLED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

THE

ΤΟ

I

AFD HAD ALSO ISSUED CIRCULAR LETTERS TO LOCAL REMINDING THEM TO OBSERVE THE REQUIREMENTS, HE ADDED.

RESTAURANTS

FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO AFD'S FAUNA CONSERVATION SECTION ON TEL 733 2177 OR 733 2144..

/10

Page 10Page 11