the strictest in the world.
CONFIDENTIAL
6. Dr Richard Leakey of the Kenyan Wildlife Department has recently
claimed that our decision to enter a reservation has led directly to an increase in poaching in Africa. Sir Geoffrey Howe challenged
Dr Leakey's accusations in the House of Commons on 22 February and
made clear that we would investigate any evidence of complicity by
Hong Kong traders in illegal trading in ivory. So far no such
evidence has been produced.
Progress with retraining of ivory workers
7. When we entered our six month Reservation on 18 January, we
justified our decision on the grounds that it would give Hong Kong
a reasonable period in which to adjust to the ban by allowing
traders to dispose of their stocks in an orderly fashion and
enabling the 3000 carvers and workers to find alternative
employment.
8. Since then, the Hong Kong Government have taken a number of
steps to encourage retraining and alternative employment. But the
number who have taken advantage of these opportunities is so far
relatively small. Only 26 ivory workers have actually been placed
in new jobs and only 1 has started a full time retraining course,
although a further 36 have responded favourably to enquiries from
the Vocational Training Council. Nevertheless the Hong Kong
Government can claim to have done everything they reasonably can to
take advantage of the breathing space provided by our reservation.
Orderly disposal of stocks
9.
The position on orderly disposal of stocks is less satisfactory.
The quantity of ivory actually exported from Hong Kong since the
reservation was entered is less than one tonne. Only five tonnes have been exported since the CITES Conference in October.
This may
be partly because traders are having more difficulty than expected in finding export outlets and partly because ivory prices have
fallen dramatically, encouraging traders to hang on to their stocks
CONFIDENTIAL