Press Releases
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Traders fined for possession of shahstoosh The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) today (Thursday) reminded traders that trading or possessing highly endangered species may face heavy fine. The appeal was made following the conclusion of two recent court cases which involved the seizure of over $4 million worth of shahstoosh shawls from two traders. An AFD spokesman said the two traders were both convicted of illegal possession of highly endangered shahstoosh. Shahstoosh is the trade name of a fabric woven from the fleece of the highly endangered Tibetan antelopes which live in the high Himalayas. World population of the species is about 75,000. The first case came to light on December 18, 1997 when AFD officers, acting on information, raided two premises of a firm in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and seized 130 pieces of shahstoosh shawls. At a court hearing in the North Kowloon Magistracy last month, an American expert was invited to give professional evidence that the shawls seized were shahstoosh. The defendant was convicted today. Also acting on information, AFD staff raided a hotel room in Central on December 16, 1998 and found a person possessing 23 pieces of shahstoosh shawls. The defendant pleaded guilty at the Western Magistracy on January 22 this year and was fined $20,000. The spokesman said: "Under the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, it is an offence to import, export or possess endangered species without a licence. "An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $5 million and two years' imprisonment upon conviction. "The control covers a wide variety of endangered species, including their parts, derivatives as well as medicines containing or claiming to contain rhino or tiger ingredients." He also took the opportunity to urge members of the public to report any illegal activities on endangered species to AFD's Endangered Species Protection Section on 2733 2286/2733 2117. |
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