Press Releases
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Public reminded not to bring prohibited endangered species into HK Members of the public are reminded not to bring prohibited endangered species into Hong Kong on their return from visits to other places, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (April 10). "People may be tempted to buy wildlife products as souvenirs when they are on a trip abroad. As some of these wild plant and animal species are under the threat of extinction, international trade in these species is prohibited under an international convention. "According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), commercial import and export of highly endangered species and their products, for example ivory, shahtoosh shawl, sea turtle ornaments, slipper orchids as well as medicines made from rhinos, tigers and some bears, is strictly prohibited. "On the other hand, some plant and animal species are not presently threatened with extinction but may become so if their trade is not regulated. Thus, trade in these species is allowed but subject to strict licensing control. Examples include some parrots, meat and products made from certain crocodiles, giant clam shells, coral ornaments, American Ginseng roots, and certain orchids and cacti. "Similar control is also applied to artificially propagated endangered plants. In the past four months, there have been 55 seizures of artificially propagated orchids at control points involving a total of 2,880 plants," the spokesman said. Under the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, the import, export or possession of these endangered animals and plants, including their parts and derivatives, requires a licence which must be obtained in advance from AFCD. The control applies to tourist items as well. "As it is not easy to know which wildlife souvenirs are made of endangered species, members of the public are advised not to purchase such kind of items if they are in doubt. "Moreover, members of the public should not rely on others' assurance that licences are not required for certain endangered species because they may not be given the accurate and updated information," he said. Any person contravening the licensing requirements of the Ordinance will be prosecuted and may be subject to a maximum fine of $5,000,000, imprisonment for two years and mandatory forfeiture of the specimens upon conviction. For details, the public may call AFCD's Endangered Species Protection Division on 2150 6999 or visit our website on http://www.afcd.gov.hk/con_new/homepage.htm. |
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