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262
136110
MDHIAN 8345
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 11090OZ FCO
TELNO 2150
OF 11034OZ JULY 90
HUKE 1ST ние
RECEN DIN
JUL 1990
TRY
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELNO 1271 : IVORY PQS
OUR DRAFT REPLIES FOLLOW
2802
THE HONG KONG AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED ALL THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON ELEPHANT IVORY REQUESTED BY THE WORLD WIDE FIND FOR NATURE, HONG KONG. THE INFORMATION OUTSTANDING REQUESTED BY WWF (HK) IS THAT ON THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OF TUSKS HELD IN HONG KONG : SUCH INFORMATION IS BEING COMPILED AND WILL BE FORWARDED TO WWF (HK) WHEN AVAILABLE.
2803
468 TONNES (TO THE NEAREST TONNE) OF COMMERCIAL IVORY STOCKS WERE
RECORDED IN HONG KONG AS AT 7 JULY 1990.
2804
27 CHECKS TO IVORY HOLDING PREMISES WERE CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG
AUTHORITIES IN JUNE 1990.
2805
INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASE IS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT. THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ARE THAT THE CONSIGNMENTS (MANIFESTED AS CERAMIC LIONS) HAD BEEN SHIPPED FROM HONG KONG. THERE WAS NO WAY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER THE SEIZURES IN JAPAN WERE PART OF THE IVORY STOCK REGISTERED IN HONG KONG SINCE THEY WERE ALL IN THE FORM OF NAME SEALS. THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS, NEVERTHELESS, CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS ON SELECTED STOCK HOLDERS. SIX PERSONS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ADVICE ON POSSIBLE PROSECUTION IS BEING SOUGHT.
2807
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 7 FIELD OFFICER II IN THE FAUNA CONSERVATION SECTION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. WHETHER THE ESTABLISHMENT NEEDS TO BE INCREASED WILL BE DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PROCEDURES.
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