Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants (Exemption for Appendix I Species) Order
(Cap. 586, section 47(1) and (3))
(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 3 of 2023)
[1 December 2006] L.N. 206 of 2006
(Format changes—E.R. 3 of 2023)
(Omitted as spent—E.R. 3 of 2023)
A person who imports a specimen of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 5(1) of the Ordinance if, upon the landing of the specimen in Hong Kong—
he proves to the satisfaction of an authorized officer that the specimen is a programme specimen; and
he surrenders or causes to be surrendered to an authorized officer for retention and cancellation a Convention certifying document issued in respect of the specimen, stating that the specimen is not a live specimen of wild origin.
In this section—
programme specimen (計劃標本) means a specimen which is arranged to be loaned, donated or exchanged for non-commercial purposes between participants in a co-operative conservation programme and—(a)those participants include one or more range states of the species to which the specimen belongs; or(b)the programme is supported by one or more such range states; range state (分佈國), in relation to a species, means a state whose territory is within the natural range of distribution of the species or a particular population of the species.A person who has in his possession or under his control a specimen (other than a live animal) of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 9(1) of the Ordinance if he proves to the satisfaction of the Director that the specimen is possessed or controlled for the purpose of scientific or educational study or for display in any museum or herbarium.
For the purposes of this Part, a specimen is part of the personal or household effects of a person who is an individual if— (7 of 2018 s. 28)
the specimen is personally owned or possessed by the person for non-commercial purposes only; and
where the specimen is being imported, exported or re-exported—
it is worn or carried by the person or included in his personal baggage; or
the import, export or re-export forms part of a household move of the person. (7 of 2018 s. 28)
Moreover, for the purposes of section 7, a specimen owned or possessed by a person other than an individual for non-commercial purposes only is taken to be part of the personal or household effects of the person. (7 of 2018 s. 28)
A person who imports, exports or re-exports a specimen (other than a live animal) of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 5(1), 7(1) or 8(1) (as the case may be) of the Ordinance if—
the specimen is not of a species specified in the Schedule;
the specimen is part of the personal or household effects of the person; and
the specimen was legally acquired by the person.
A person who imports a live animal of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 5(1) of the Ordinance if—
the animal is not of a species specified in the Schedule;
the animal is part of the personal or household effects of the person;
the animal was legally acquired by the person; and
upon the landing of the animal in Hong Kong, the person surrenders or causes to be surrendered to an authorized officer for retention and cancellation a Convention certifying document issued in respect of the animal.
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply where—
the person acquired the specimen outside his usual place of residence; and
the specimen—
is being taken into Hong Kong;
is being taken out of Hong Kong to the person’s usual place of residence; or
is being taken out of Hong Kong with the intention of it being taken to the person’s usual place of residence.
A person who exports or re-exports a specimen (other than a live animal) of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 7(1) or 8(1) (as the case may be) of the Ordinance if—
the specimen is part of the personal or household effects of the person;
the specimen was legally acquired by the person; and
before the removal of the specimen from Hong Kong, the person produces or causes to be produced to an authorized officer a pre-Convention certificate issued in respect of the specimen.
A person who has in his possession or under his control a specimen (other than a live specimen) of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 9(1) of the Ordinance if—
the specimen is not of a species specified in the Schedule; and
the specimen is part of the personal or household effects of the person.
A person who has in his possession or under his control a live specimen of an Appendix I species shall be exempt from section 9(1) of the Ordinance if—
the specimen is not of a species specified in the Schedule;
the specimen is part of the personal or household effects of the person; and
the person proves to the satisfaction of the Director that—
where the person began to possess or control the specimen before the commencement* of the Ordinance, the possession or control before that commencement had never been in contravention of the repealed Ordinance; and
where the person began to possess or control the specimen on or after that commencement—
the specimen was imported or introduced from the sea in compliance with the repealed Ordinance or the Ordinance (whichever was in force at that time); or
he legally acquired the specimen in Hong Kong.
| 1. | Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
| 2. | All species of the family Rhinocerotidae |
| Note: | In the English text of this Schedule, any common name in English of a scientific name, if known, is included within angle brackets (< >) after the scientific name. In the Chinese text of this Schedule, any common name in Chinese of a scientific name or the Chinese translation of the scientific name, if known, is included within angle brackets (< >) after the scientific name. |