THE Government was last night preparing to search the home of Giordano chairman Jimmy Lai Chee-ying after the Sunday Morning Post revealed the millionaire was keeping an endangered breed of bear in a metal cage in the back garden.
An Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) field officer, Lee Man-fai, visited the Shamshuipo villa yesterday and confirmed the animal in Mr Lai's garden was a protected species.
Mr Lee said his department would apply for a search warrant and return to the premises.
Owners of bears are required to possess a licence under the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance. The AFD earlier confirmed Mr Lai did not have a licence to keep a bear.
''We need to see how big the animal is so we can make plans for removing it,'' Mr Lee said.
When the Sunday Morning Post saw the bear last week, it seemed to be in good physical condition but appeared docile, listless and bored.