TNAG-1953-FCO40-2782-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 74

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MDHIAN 382

BONY TONGUE FISH AND AMERICAN GINSENG ROOTS, ETC. DETAILS OF SEIZURES AND PROSECUTION FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS ARE BEING FAXED TO HKD. REGARDING IVORY, THERE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN LEGAL IMPORTS OF WORKED IVORY FROM ILLEGAL SOURCES BEFORE AUGUST 1988 BUT THE LOOPHOLE HAS BEEN PLUGGED SINCE THEN BY THE EXTENSION OF CONTROL TO COVER THE IMPORT OF ALL FORMS OF WORKED IVORY. THE SEIZURES AND PROSECUTIONS FIGURES IN RELATION TO IVORY ARE, AGAIN, BEING FAXED.

(IV) A TWO-TIER CHECKING SYSTEM OPERATES IN THE IMPORT CONTROL OF ENDANGERED SPECIES IN HONG KONG. CUSTOMS OFFICERS SCREEN AND SPOT CHECK INCOMING SHIPMENTS. ANY SHIPMENT SUSPECTED TO CONTAIN ENDANGER- ED SPECIES IS REFERRED TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR THOROUGH CHECKING, INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION AS NECESSARY. ALL SHIPMENTS COVERED BY THE REQUIRED LICENCES ARE THOROUGHLY CHECKED BY AFD OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT THE SUPPORTING EXPORT PERMITS ARE VALID, AND THE DESCRIPTIONS, QUANTITIES AND MARKINGS OF THE SPECIMENS TALLY WITH THOSE SHOWN IN THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. WITH REGARD TO POST-ENTRY CHECKING, AFD OFFICERS CONDUCT REGULAR CHECKS TO LOCAL SHOPS, MARKETS, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BLACK SPOTS TO CHEK AGAINST THE LOCAL SALE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES COMING FROM DUBIOUS SOURCES. RELEVANT FIGURES ARE IN FAX. THE SEIZURE OF SOME 6,000 WILD ORCHIDS IS ONE OF OUR RECENT SUCCESSES AND RECOGNISED AS SUCH BY CITES SECRETARY-GENERAL. THE ROUTINE POLICE PATROLS AND REPORTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC FURTHER HELP TO DETER SUCH ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION MOST OF THE IVORY CARVING FACTORIES IN HONG KONG ARE REGISTERED WITH THE TRADE DEPARTMENT FOR CERTIFICATION PURPOSES. CUSTOMS OFFICERS CONDUCT PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS TO THESE FACTORIES TO CHECK THE DETAILS OF THE CERTIFICATE APPLICANTS AND WHETHER THE STOCK TALLIES WITH THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THE TRADE DEPARTMENT. IN THIS CONNECTION 405 CHECKS TO IVORY FACTORIES/CONSIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN 1988. BUT THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR COMPLACENCY. THE ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES ARE THEREFORE REVIEWING PRACTICES WITH A VIEW TO EXERCISING

TIGHTER CONTROL. THIS WILL PAY PARTICULAR REGARD TO DETECTING SHIP-

MENTS OF COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES OF ILLEGAL IVORY.

2.

IN ORDER TO MORE EFFECTIVELY CONTROL THE TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES, FOLLOW UP ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS FOLLOWS. ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, AMENDMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM FINE AND TO ENHANCE ENFORCEMENT WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 31. MAY 89. ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE, AFD HAS DEPLOYED 5 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS TO STRENGTHEN THE ENFORCEMENT ON ENDANGERED SPECIES CONTROL. ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SIDE, IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR PRESS RELEASES AND RADIO/ TELEVISION BROADCASTS, A NEW POSTER ON CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES HAS

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