More endangered species will be added to our protection ordinances on June 1.

On that date the Animals & Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules) Notice 2004 and the Animals & Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2004 will take effect. The Commencement Notices for the amendments were gazetted today.

The amendments aim to update our legislation with the latest revisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora's list of controlled species.

The changes affect species like certain freshwater turtles, whale sharks, basking sharks, seahorses and bigleaf mahogany.

Under the Animals & Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, the import, export and possession of the controlled species, including their parts and derivatives, are subject to licensing controls.

To facilitate legitimate trade in these species without compromising Hong Kong's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora, the Government will also introduce the Animals & Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2004.

It will exempt the possession or control of whale shark, basking shark, seahorses (excluding live animals) and bigleaf mahogany from the licensing requirements.

The import and export of these four species, however, will still require licences issued by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation.