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026250 MDLOAN 362
CONSULT MARITIME, AVIATION AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT.
LINE TO TAKE
2.
THE UK SUPPORTS THE RE-LISTING OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT ONTO APPENDIX I OF CITES (IE A BAN ON TRADE IN IVORY) BUT ALSO RECOGNISES THAT HONG KONG FACES CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES OVER DISPOSING OF ITS STOCKS OF LEGALLY-ACQUIRED IVORY. A SIX-MONTH RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG MEETS OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO A DEPENDENT TERRITORY WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR SUPPORT FOR MEASURES TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT.
ADDITIONAL POINTS
3. (A) WHY A RESERVATION?
TO ALLOW HONG KONG TRADERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPOSE OF THEIR LEGALLY-ACQUIRED STOCKS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION AND TO ENABLE
CARVERS AND WORKERS TO RE-TRAIN.
(B) IS UK STILL COMMITTED TO CITES?
UK FULLY COMMITTED TO CITES. RESERVATION APPLIES TO HONG KONG FOR SIX MONTHS ONLY. DOES NOT APPLY TO UK OR ANY OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORY.
(C) HONG KONG HAS BAD RECORD ON CONSERVATION
HONG KONG FULLY COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING AFRICAN ELEPHANT. HAS BANNED IMPORTS OF IVORY AND INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT CITES BAN ON ALL TRADE IN SIX MONTHS.
(D) IVORY IN HONG KONG WAS ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED?
IVORY HELD IN HONG KONG LEGALLY ACQUIRED UNDER CITES.
(E) CONTINUED TRADE WILL PROVIDE LOOPHOLE FOR ENTRY OF ILLEGAL
IVORY ONTO MARKET AND THEREFORE ENCOURAGE MORE POACHING
IF WE BELIEVED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE ENTERED THE RESERVATION. ENTRY ONTO MARKET OF HONG KONG STOCK IS NOT A THREAT TO LIVING ELEPHANTS. MAKES NO SENSE FOR ANYONE TO IMPORT, ILLEGALLY, MORE IVORY INTO HONG KONG WHERE THERE IS A STOCK OF 600 TONNES OF LEGAL IVORY AND NO DOMESTIC MARKET.
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(F) WHAT MEASURES HAVE HONG KONG TAKEN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRADE? IN 1989 HONG KONG INTRODUCED FURTHER CONTROLS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRADE. THESE INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL CUSTOMS TASK FORCE, INCREASING 5-FOLD THE FINE FOR ILLEGAL TRADING, THE
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