Allowing Hong Kong to continue to trade its legally-acquired ivory for a limited period does not create a threat to living elephants, because imports are already banned. It would make no sense to try to import ivory illegally into Hong Kong where there is already a large stock of legal ivory, a small domestic market, and a small number of export outlets.
Both the British Government and Hong Kong remain fully committed to the conservation of endangered species and to CITES itself. We would not have entered a Reservation if we believed that by doing so we were putting at risk the future of the African
elephant.
I am returning your constituent's letter, a copy of which we have kept for our files.
DOUGLAS HURD
Чому
доши.
: