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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said today (September 5) that staff have completed inspecting all 20 artificial lakes in its parks. Seventeen alligator gars were found in the artificial lakes of five parks so far and all of them were removed.
A spokesman for the LCSD said that staff had found 17 alligator gars in the artificial lakes of Tak Wah Park, Chai Wan Park, Hong Kong Park, Tsing Yi Park and Lai Chi Kok Park. Staff have removed these alligator gars as soon as possible and they exercised care and endeavoured to avoid hurting themselves and the alligator gars when catching the fishes.
Experts confirmed that alligator gar has low value of conservation and should not be released, he noted. Since the LCSD could not find any organisation with appropriate facilities to adopt the fishes, the department will discuss with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on suitable ways to put down the fishes humanely. These fishes are now temporarily put in the park facilities which are not open to the public.
The spokesman reiterated that under the Pleasure Grounds Regulation, it is an offence to release fish or feed them in the artificial lakes of LCSD venues. Notices have been put up to remind park visitors. Law enforcement action will be taken against people who violate the regulation. The maximum penalty will be a $2000 fine and 14 days of imprisonment upon conviction.
He called on the public to think thoroughly before keeping pets and not to abandon animal or fish.
Ends/Saturday, September 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:16
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