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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (December 14) :
Question:
It has been reported that the University of Hong Kong disallows serving shark's fin dishes in all on-campus restaurants, regardless of whether or not they have been outsourced. Moreover, should shark's fin dishes be offered at banquets held by the university, it will not pay for the consumption of the shark's fin. Similar practice has also been adopted by large enterprises such as Swire Properties Limited and The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether the Government, as the largest organization in Hong Kong, will follow the above practice; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is committed to protecting endangered species. We spare no efforts in enforcing the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by imposing strict control on the trade in endangered species through the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance (the Ordinance). Any regulated species listed by the Conference of the Parties to CITES will be correspondingly brought under regulatory control of the local legislation. At present, three species of sharks are listed as endangered species (i.e. CITES Appendix II species) by CITES, and their import and export are subject to strict control of the Ordinance. Persons who do not comply with the requirements of the Ordinance will be prosecuted.
For sharks not listed as regulated species by CITES, their international trade and consumption are not subject to the control of CITES. As such, the consumption of shark fins from such species in Hong Kong is also not regulated by the local legislation.
The HKSAR Government strictly follows the requirements of CITES and the local legislation. We will not impose additional regulation to restrict Government's internal consumption of certain legal products because of the views or opinions of individual organizations. As such, we have not drawn up guidelines to restrict the types of food to be served at official banquets. We also have no plan to promote against the consumption of shark fins that are not regulated by CITES.
Ends/Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:59
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