Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
LCQ10: Protection of wild birds
*******************************

    Following is a question by the Hon Leung Kwok-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):

Question:

    Some members of the public have relayed to me that the existing Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) (the Ordinance) protects wild birds only by banning illegal hunting and possession of hunting appliances, and it does not prohibit the importation and sale of wild birds.  At present, with the growing worldwide awareness of wildlife conservation and the emphasis on biodiversity and ecological balance, legislative control and public education in this regard have increasingly been strengthened.  For example, in addition to endangered species and valuable and rare species of wild animals, conserved species of wild animals are also included in the conservation projects; the scope of conservation is also expanding continuously, including protecting the wild animals' habitats, prohibiting activities which disturb, abuse, kill, hunt, slaughter, trade, display wild animals, etc., and imposing control over the import/export, feeding and breeding of wild animals.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) in each of the past three years, of the number of cases in which the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) instituted prosecutions by invoking the Ordinance and the number of convictions among them, the respective numbers of wild birds imported to and traded in Hong Kong, as well as the number of such wild birds which had been inspected by AFCD;

(b) whether it will follow the practice of the European Union to impose a total ban on the sale of wild birds; and

(c) whether the authorities will review and amend the Ordinance, and launch public education to promote protection for wild birds, call on the public to respect the way of life and behaviour of wild birds, and cut back on activities such as "releasing birds to the wild", etc., which encourage the trading of wild birds?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Wild birds in Hong Kong are protected by the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), which governs both their possession and sale.  For birds protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), their import and export, and possession are also subject to control.  From 2006 to 2008 (up to May), there was one case of illegal hunting of local wild birds leading to the prosecution and conviction under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance.  In addition, there were eight cases of prosecution and conviction for illegal import of endangered birds under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance.

    Moreover, the import of both wild and captive-bred birds into Hong Kong is also governed by the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139A).  All birds have to go through inspection and quarantine procedures. 

    The table below shows the records of the import of birds (both wild and captive-bred) for the past three years:

      Year            Total number of birds imported
      2006                    76,927
      2007                    39,105
      2008 (January to May)    6,126


    We do not separately keep record on the import of wild birds alone.

    Prior to July 2007, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) did not keep statistics on the trading of imported birds.  From July 2007, however, all licensed bird traders are required to record every bird trading transaction.  Between July 2007 and May 2008, licensed bird traders imported and sold about 14,320 and 13,500 birds respectively, including wild and captive-bred ones.

(b) & (c) Currently, the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance and the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance have provided appropriate control over the sale of birds.  The Government has no plans to amend the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance or impose a total ban on the sale of wild birds.

    Regarding publicity and education, the AFCD has launched an announcement of public interest to urge the public not to release birds to the wild.  In addition, the AFCD conducts various types of education and promotion activities such as exhibitions, talks, competitions and advertisements to enhance public awareness of protecting endangered wildlife species.

Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:38

NNNN

Print this page