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THE SPECIAL TASK FORCE SET UP BY THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
DEPARTMENT HAS A STAFF OF 12, RESPONSIBLE FOR GATHERING INTELLIGENCE, SCRUTINISING MANIFESTS, AND CONDUCTING FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION ON IVORY SEIZURES. THERE IS AT PRESENT NO PLAN TO
INCREASE ITS SIZE : ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE
CONSIDERED IF REQUIRED.
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THE IVORY CONSIGNMENT IN QUESTION WAS ORIGINALLY EXPORTED FROM HONG
KONG TO SPAIN ON 4 JULY 1989 AND SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED TO HONG KONG VIA LONDON ON 10 NOVEMBER 1989. ON ARRIVAL, IT WAS SEIZED BY THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT. THE EXPORTER IN HONG KONG
WAS PROSECUTED AND FINED HK DOLLARS 1,000. THE SEIZURE OF 55 KGS IVORY PRODUCTS WAS CONFISCATED.
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THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CONDUCT RANDOM EXPORT CHECKS WITH THE SUPPORT OF INTELLIGENCE. MOREOVER, THE DEPARTMENT HAS IN APRIL 1990 ALERTED CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE ESCAP REGION ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF ILLICIT SHIPMENTS OF IVORY FROM HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE RESERVATION ENDS ON 17 JULY 1990. THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO CONDUCT SURPRISE CHECKS ON IVORY STOCK
HOLDERS. NO EXPORT LICENCE WILL BE ISSUED FOR COMMERCIAL EXPORTS OF IVORY FROM 17 JULY 1990, AND ANY PERSON FOUND TO EXPORT IVORY WITHOUT LICENCE WILL BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND A FINE, AS WELL
AS CONFISCATION OF THE IVORY IN QUESTION.
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879 LICENCES OF COMMERCIAL IVORY STOCKS WERE RECORDED IN HONG
KONG AS AT 7 JULY 1990. NO SUCH FIGURES WERE AVAILABLE 12 MONTHS
AGO SINCE IT WAS ONLY AFTER 13 OCTOBER 1989 THAT TRADERS WERE
REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THEIR POSSESSION LICENCES BY 12 JANUARY 1990.
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THE PROPOSED REPLY APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER. I TRUST THAT YOU WILL
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO WITHDRAW THE RESERVATION. PLEASE KEEP
US INFORMED OF PROGRESS.
WILSON
YYYY
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