х
banned immediately while a long-term strategy for conserving the African
elephant is worked out.
There is also much concern about the role of Hong Kong in the ivory trade.
The Hong Kong Government take very seriously their responsibilities as a
party to CITES, and has always complied fully with the provisions of the
the Convention. Hong Kong has strict legislative controls on import and export
of ivory. In the light of calls for immediate action to be taken for a
total ban on trade in ivory the Hong Kong Government is now urgently
reviewing its position.
The United Kingdom has long been providing help to Kenya for conservation
under the aid programme. At present we are funding three expatriate staff
(one wildlife adviser and two game wardens), who have worked in the Kenyan
Wildlife Department for many years. One of the game wardens acts as the
co-ordinator of the Kenya Rhino Rescue Project. 19 British Army Bedford
lorries have been supplied for use in anti-poaching efforts in Kenya, and
we are also discussing with the authorities there a project to provide the
Wildlife Department with spares, VHF radios, and Landrovers, together with
workshop tools and spares for a vehicle repair programme.
Britain's aid programme has also funded an adviser on wildlife management
to the Department of National Parks in Zimbabwe. Currently we provide
assistance for wildlife conservation in Cameroon, Liberia and Zambia under
the aid programme's Joint Funding Scheme with voluntary agencies.
We are
also contributing £1 million to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (formerly the
World Wildlife Fund) to assist in activities to conserve natural resources,
particularly forests which are important wildlife habitats. We are
ready to discuss with the African governments concerned further support
from the aid programme for wildlife conservation including measures
protect elephants.
to
t
On 9 June me KKS- announced that
it noww
sugut
a ban on trade
the introduction of
trave in new voy and by
the wygoudig of the Afrom Elyrhet ħ CITES Appendix I status.