[Photo/VCG] HONG KONG -- Those who are bringing in, making, selling, distributing, or promoting alternative smoking products including E-cigarettes in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may face a maximum penalty of a fine of 50,000 HK dollars ($6,370) and six months' imprisonment. A bill to amend the Smoking Ordinance targeting alternative cigarettes was submitted to the Legislative Council of HKSAR on Wednesday. The bill is proposed by the Food and Health Bureau of the HKSAR government and will have its first reading on Feb 20, or next Wednesday. Safeguarding the health of the public is the primary concern of the government though the bill may raise different opinions under expected paramount discussion, said Sophia Chan, secretary for the Food and Health Bureau, on her official blog. The government hopes to nip the problem in the bud, Amy Yuen, deputy secretary for the Food and Health Bureau, told press on Wednesday. As these products are still relatively new in Hong Kong, they're not as entrenched as conventional smoking products. It is the responsibility of the government to prevent these products from taking root in Hong Kong, said Yuen. figured wristbandcheap silicone wristbands canadacheap silicone wristbands for fundraisingrubber band braceletscheapest place to buy silicone wristbandsembossed-wristbandextra large silicone wristbandsevent wristbandsembossed printed wristbandmiscarriage awareness silicone bracelets
Zhang Bajin is feeding the finless porpoises. [Photo/newssc.org] HEFEI - While preparing meals for the finless porpoises of the Yangtze River, Zhang Bajin carefully picks out a small fish. This kind of fish would get stuck in the porpoise's throat, he said, adding that the porpoises are big eaters, they can eat more than 10 percent of their own body weight in fish every day. For over 30 years, Zhang has been caring for the critically endangered animals. He sees the porpoises as his own children. With a slightly curved mouth, the finless porpoise is often called the smiling angel of the Yangtze by Chinese. However, the population has been rapidly decreasing over the last three decades due to environmental deterioration. The species now teeters on the brink of extinction with a population of around 1,000 in the main waterway of the Yangtze, according to research conducted in 2012. Zhang is among a team of 20 people at the Tongling Freshwater Dolphins National Nature Reserve in east China's Anhui Province. Established in 2000, the reserve enclosed a corner of the Yangtze creating an ideal habitat for the porpoises. Jiang Wenhua, chief engineer and one of the founders of the reserve, recalled they caught four finless porpoises in the Yangtze in 2001, two males and two females, and brought them in the reserve. After 17 years, there are now 11 porpoises in the reserve, the youngest born in May this year, he added.
