MAY 31 '89 13:35 HKGO LONDON FAXT01 493-1964-
P.2
Hong Kong
Government Office
香港政府駐英辦事處
Thank you for your letter about the trade in ivory.
I assure you that the Government of Hong Kong fully shares your concern about the decline in the African elephant population. Hong Kong is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and takes its obligations under the Convention very seriously.
In Hong Kong, it is an offence, punishable by a fine or imprisonment, to import or export elephant tusks and carved ivory, except under licence. The law also provides for mandatory forfei- ture of ivory, upon conviction.
Licensing policy is in strict compliance with CITES principles, and licences are only granted for the import or export of ivory obtained from legal, CITES-approved sources.
In 1988, the Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Department proooooed 635 applications for ivory imports and exports. Every application was verified with the CITES Secretariat and in all but 16 cases were found to be in conformity with CITES requirements. The 16 cases were subsequently prosecuted and the 800 Kg of ivory involved was confiscated and fines totalling £1,000 were imposed. Hong Kong's record in enforcement is recognised by CITES as being very good.
Hong Kong io wapresauled on a vlled working Group which examines further measureg to save the elephant population. You
ay Lherefore pe assured that Hong Kong will continue to support the aims and objectives of CITES and will make every effort to implement any recommendations adopted by CITES to conserve the African elephants and other endangered specias, Including the tulal ban on trade in new ivory which the British Government intends to call for at the next CITES meeting in October, if this is great.
Thank you for taking the trouble to write to me on this subject, and I hope that what I have said will convince you that this Government shares your concern about the threat to the African elephant population and will du everything in its power to stamp out the illegal trade in ivory.
Yours sincerely,
PR/RB/LY
Peter Randall
for Commissioner
Grafton Street London WIX 3LB MD Telephone: 01-400 0871
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