1989-08-24
09:32 FSB GS
Jes 5 989 1679
PAR
since 16 June 1989 pending the decision of the Conference of
the Parties to CITES to be held in October.
countries have taken similar measures and
cover the import of worked ivory.
4.
To prevent such trade would be
The Hong Kong Government believes that the trading of
existing stocks of legally obtained and legally held ivory
must be allowed to continue.
both grossly unfair to those parties who have acquired ivory
in strict compliance with the provisions of the international
convention and also most unlikely to lead to enhanced
prospects for the survival of the species. Ivory traders
would move their base to places outside the purview of CITES
and existing controls would be lost. This could only benefit
those who poach ivory or otherwise profit from illegitimate
trade.
5.
It should be remembered that a high proportion of the existing stocks of ivory held in Hong Kong has been imported from Japan, Belgium, France, the U.K. and U.S.A. with the approval of their respective governments. The banning of
reimports from Hong Kong is illogical and discriminatary. [There are, at present, about 500 tonnes of raw and 170 tonnes of worked ivory in Hong Kong with an estimated value of US$90 million and $65 million respectively. In addition, some 3,000 People in Hong Kong are directly engaged in the trading and carving of ivory. An immediate ban will cause them great
difficulties in finding alternative employment. i