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WWF World Wide Fund For Nature
世界野生生物香港基金會
Mr Douglas Hurd
Foreign Secretary
Akc 151
c/o Government House
RECEIVED IN
Upper Albert Road
Hong Kong
30 MAR 1990
DESK OFFI
INDEX
Dear Mr Hurd
the land, brind
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-YM Mclaren
Анвину
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13 January 1990
WWF Hong Kong
G. P. O. Box 12721
The French Mission
1 Battery Path
Central
Hong Kong
Telephone: 5-232316
5-264473
5-261011-6
157
Telefax: 5-8452734 Telex: 66711 WWFHK HX Cable: PANDAFUND
刈
een Elephant Hory
I am writing to express WWF Hong Kong's great concern regarding the request by the Hong Kong Government for a six month 'reservation' on the upgrading of the African Elephant to Appendix I of CITES. We consider that if the British Government were to enter a reservation on Hong Kong's behalf it would result in continued trading activities which certainly would not be in the best interests of the African Elephant.
The British Government has taken a strong stand on the issue of conservation of the African Elephant during the past year. The 'recommendation' proposed by the British delegation to the CITES Conference in October 1989 for the immediate implementation of the Appendix I listing clearly demonstrated Britain's determination to prevent the further illegal killing of African Elephants. Unfortunately this level of commitment has not been fully matched by authorities in Hong Kong who recently have been issuing export licences for ivory to go to countries which are Party to CITES but which have announced total import bans (notably West Germany and Japan). Whilst there may have been legal reasons why the issue of licences could not be refused it is nonetheless surprising that the Management Authorities of those countries concerned were not advised of the matter, thus allowing necessary action at import.
WWF Hong Kong has always supported the orderly disposal of the legally held ivory stocks in Hong Kong. Whilst there is no doubt that the trade has found difficulty in finding markets since the middle of last year there is no reason to think that they will be any more successful in the coming six months. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department has insufficient manpower and facilities to adequately police the ivory trade - for example, they still have not completed checking stocks declared by traders over five months ago - and any lengthening of the period of time allowed for trade will increase the opportunities for the unscrupulous dealers to move ivory with minimal risk of detection. In this respect it is important to note that only some 2% of the containerised cargo passing through Hong Kong is inspected by Customs and Excise.
In view of the very serious situation facing many populations of the African Elephant at this time, as recognised by the British Government's support for upgrading of the species to Appendix I of CITES, it would be disastrous to allow uncontrollable trading to continue for any longer. We urge the British Government to reject the request for a six month 'reservation' by the Hong Kong Government on behalf of the Hong Kong ivory traders.
Yours sincerely
pp Ralph J. Geonard
David S Melville
Conservation Officer
Mr Stone
Pl scale tel to
贊助人:港督衞奕信爵士
會長:馮秉芬爵士 主席:鍾逸傑爵士
各委員會主席:
行政及財務委員會:鍾逸傑爵士
建設委員會:湛士先生
計劃委員會:施露醫生
教育委員會:莫雅頓教授
公共關係委員會:華德先生 名譽總幹事:何桃君女士
註冊慈善機構
Patron:
His Excellency the Governor
Sir David Wilson
President:
The Hon. Sir Kenneth Ping-fan Fung
Chairman:
Sir David Akers-Jones
Committee Chairmen:
Administration & Finance: Sir David Akers-Jones
Buildings & Accommodation: Mr. M. L. Chalmers
Education: Prof. B. Morton
Projects: Dr. K. C. Searle
Public Relations: Mr. Nigel Watt
Honorary Executive Director:
Mary Hotung Ketterer
Registered Charity
HK about xl.
W 221,