Orchid enthusiast contests conviction

THE orchid enthusiast who was last Friday fined $17,200 plus $5,000 costs following his fifth conviction for possessing wild orchids has lodged an appeal in the Supreme Court against his conviction.

Hsu She Hua said he was contesting the Sha Tin Court verdict that he had been in possession of wild orchids which were an endangered species on the grounds that his orchids were ''succulent plants'' and not protected.

Hsu, who is a correspondent for the American magazine Orchidigest, said growing orchids was his hobby.

Sha Tin Court heard last Friday that Hsu also lodged an appeal against an earlier conviction but was forced to abandon it because of lack of funds.