$
dispose of their legally held stocks in an orderly fashion
and to allow time for ivory workers to find alternative
employment.
4. As Mr Black's letter points out, however, Hong Kong
ivory traders had considerable difficulty in disposing of
their stocks. Only a very small proportion of Hong Kong's
ivory stocks (about 6 tonnes out of a total of 474 tonnes
available for trade) was actually exported during the six
month Reservation period.
5.
The Hong Kong Government have now enacted legislation to
implement the CITES ban. This came into effect when our
Reservation was withdrawn with effect from 18 July. Hong
Kong legislation now fully reflects the provisions of the
CITES Convention. A potential loophole which might have
allowed tourists to export ivory of up to 5 kilos in weight
as personal effects was closed before the legislation took
effect.
6.
Mr Black refers to the decision taken by President Moi
of Kenya in July 1989 to burn 12 tonnes of poached ivory
tusks and argues that the Hong Kong Government should do
the same. Only a small proportion of Hong Kong's ivory
stocks (2.5 tonnes) is confiscated ivory which was illegally
acquired and the Hong Kong Government have no plans to destroy this. The UK has not yet reached a decision on how to dispose of its confiscated stocks. There is, in any
case, no obligation under CITES regulations to destroy stocks of confiscated ivory.
Roeland Manda
R M Marsden
CC5ACC/2