To bring Hong Kong's endangered species control fully in line with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a new bill will be gazetted on April 15, the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department said Wednesday.

The Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Bill, to be submitted to the Legislative Council on April 27, will replace the existing Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, which regulates through a licensing system the import, export or possession of endangered species.

The system will be streamlined and the existing fee structure simplified by reducing the number of fee items from 14 to nine.

Most of the existing and potential license holders will pay less under the streamlined system.

Under the existing ordinance, control over international trade in medicines made from regulated species does not fully meet the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2005)