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8. The second contentious issue is the situation of Hong Kong, which is a major centre of the ivory trade. It has been estimated that some 3,000 people are employed in the ivory carving industry, and Hong Kong currently holds stocks of ivory valued at $1 billion Hong Kong dollars, and totalling some 670 tonnes. If Appendix I listing without exceptions for existing legal stocks of ivory was adopted, Hong Kong's stocks would be practically worthless. Conservation groups are, however, almost unanimous in their opposition to any proposal along these lines. Not only do they doubt the legality of all ivory held in Hong Kong but they consider that any trade in Hong Kong ivory would provide a means for illegal ivory to enter the market. The Minister will be aware of the number of MPs' letters we have received on this subject.
9.
Although we have no reason to doubt that some illegal ivory has in the past found its way to Hong Kong we believe that the sale of existing legal stocks would not be adversely affect the conservation of the African elephant, provided there existed a proper system of control to ensure no new illegal ivory could find its way onto the market, and that satisfactory evidence of the legality of the ivory was produced. Hong Kong itself is in favour of stricter controls on trade (including Appendix I listing with exceptions) and has on its own initiative no doubt prompted by TV programmes on the activities of traders such as the Poon brothers a number of measures to ensure that this will not happen in future. These include the registering of all existing stocks, a computer data base to monitor movements of ivory within the colony, a task force of customs officers to enforce the legislation, and measures to introduce licensing for possession of ivory. We share the DOF's view that, in the light of these measures, our support for exceptions from Appendix I listing for existing legal stocks in Hong Kong would not run counter to our overriding conservation interests
for the African elephant.
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