BACKGROUND NOTE
1. Following the decision of the Conference of the Parties to
CITES to transfer the African elephant to Appendix I of the Convention (thereby banning international trade in ivory), the
Government agreed to enter a temporary reservation on behalf of Hong Kong to allow it a period of six months to dispose of its stocks of legally acquired ivory. This period expired on 17 July
1990,
and the reservation has now been withdrawn.
2. The Hong Kong legislation introduced to implement the trade
ban contained a loophole which would have allowed the export of
ivory tourist souvenirs of up to 5 kg in weight. CITES does not
permit the export of tourist souvenirs of Appendix I species such
as the African elephant, and the Hong Kong legislation would thus
have been an infringement of the Convention. Accordingly, the
Hong Kong authorities have announced their intention to introduce
amending legislation to close the loophole and bring the Hong
Kong export controls fully into line with the provisions of the
Convention.
3. Hong Kong had already anticipated the ban on commercial trade
by prohibiting imports of ivory and introducing stricy controls
over existing stocks. These measures included a a system of
possession licensing, the registration of and marking of stocks,
and the setting up of a special Customs task force to combat
illegal trade in ivory.
***END***