FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1988
BAN ON LOCAL SALE OF RHINO HORN AND HIDE
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (FRIDAY) THAT THE INTERNAL SALE OF RHINO HORN AND HIDE IN HONG KONG WILL CEASE TO BE PERMITTED FROM SUNDAY (JULY 31).
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AS FROM MONDAY (AUGUST 1) NO NEW LICENCES WILL BE GRANTED THE POSSESSION OF HORN AND HIDE OF ALL RHINO SPECIES WHICH CLASSIFIED AS HIGHLY ENDANGERED BY THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES).
A SPECIAL CONDITION WILL BE PRESCRIBED IN EXISTING POSSESSION LICENCES PROHIBITING TRANSFER AS FROM THE SAME DATE ΤΟ EFFECT PROHIBITION UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.
THE MOVE WAS INTRODUCED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY CITES, FOR A COMPLETE PROHIBITION ON ALL TRADE IN RHINO HORN AND RHINO HORN PRODUCTS INCLUDING INTERNAL RETAIL SALES IN HONG KONG.
ANNOUNCING THE PROHIBITION, THE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS), MR FRANK LAU, SAID: "HONG KONG HAS TOTALLY BANNED THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF RHINO HORN AND UNDER EXISTING LAW,
HIDE
"NO IMPORT HAS BEEN AUTHORISED SINCE THE IMPORT BAN IN 1979. THE STOCK OF RHINO HORN AND HIDE IMPORTED BEFORE THE BAN RECORDED AT THAT TIME AMOUNTED TO 2,167 KG OF HORN INCLUDING CHIPS AND PIECES, AND 1,744 KG OF HIDE.
"RE-EXPORT AND LOCAL CONSUMPTION OF THE PRE-CONVENTION STOCK HAD GRADUALLY REDUCED EVEN BEFORE THE EXPORT BAN IMPOSED IN 1986.
"AT THE END OF 1987, THE REMAINING STOCKS ARE 41 KG OF AND 230 KG OF HIDE, AND THE STOCK RECORDED YESTERDAY ONLY REMAINED 3.8 KG OF HORN AND 11.4 KG OF HIDE.
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TO PREPARE FOR THE MOVE, MR LAU SAID, TRADERS HAD BEEN IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR AND AGAIN IN MAY THIS YEAR TO DISPOSE EXISTING STOCK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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THE CONTROL WOULD BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED LATER THIS PROHIBITING THE IMPORT, EXPORT, POSSESSION AND LOCAL SALE OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS CLAIMING TO CONTAIN RHINO INGREDIENTS, HE ADDED.
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