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Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (June 27) :
Question:
Regarding poaching activities carried out by illegal entrants, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has found, since last year, any illegal entrants trespassing on the Mai Po Nature Reserve to poach fish or migratory birds; if so, of the measures taken by the Government to tackle such activities;
(b) whether the relevant government departments have sent staff to patrol the mudflats at the Mai Po Nature Reserve in view of the above activities; if so, of the details; and
(c) of the number of cases in the past three years in which illegal entrants were prosecuted for poaching fish or migratory birds at the Mai Po Nature Reserve?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Government has not found any illegal entrants trespassing on the Mai Po Nature Reserve to poach fish or migratory birds since last year. However, we have found fishermen crossing the boundary to fish at the mudflats in the Inner Deep Bay (the area near Mai Po Nature Reserve).
To protect the wetland habitats and birds, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) have all along deployed staff to patrol the area and conducted joint operations to combat illegal cross-boundary fishing activities. When officers discover or receive complaints against fishermen crossing the boundary to cast fishing nets or collect shellfish illegally on the mudflats, they will take appropriate actions, including expelling or arresting the concerned fishermen and removing the fishing devices the fishermen have set up.
(b) Besides deploying staff to patrol the boundary area (including the Mai Po Nature Reserve) on a daily basis, the HKPF has also installed security systems such as closed circuit televisions and thermal imagers throughout the boundary fence area to curb illegal entry. The waters of the mudflat areas are patrolled by the Marine Police. The AFCD also deploys staff to patrol the Mai Po Nature Reserve on a daily basis and makes use of hovercrafts to patrol the Inner Deep Bay mudflats regularly.
(c) In the past three years, no illegal entrants were prosecuted for poaching fish or migratory birds inside the Mai Po Nature Reserve. However, the HKPF arrested 37 fishermen who had illegally crossed the boundary for poaching fish or collecting marine products at the mudflats in the Inner Deep Bay during that period.
Ends/Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:01
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