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MONDAY, MAY 22, 1989
THE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICERS, MR M.K. CHEUNG, ON IVORY IMPORTS SAID: "IT IS OUR STANDING PRACTICE TO IMPOSE A BAN
IN INVOLVED FROM COUNTRIES WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO
ILLEGAL IVORY
BE
ACTIVITIES."
EFFECT IN THE PREVIOUS BAN WAS ON BURUNDI IVORY. IT CAME INTO
IN MAY LAST YEAR ΤΟ 1981 OVER RAW IVORY AND WAS FURTHER EXTENDED COVER IVORY IN OTHER FORMS NOT REGISTERED WITH THE CITES SECRETARIAT BY DECEMBER 1, 1986.
HOWEVER, MR CHEUNG SAID, THERE WERE GENERAL BANS ON BURUNDI AND SOMALIAN IVORY.
TWO
ΤΟ EXCEPTIONS
THESE
THEY FROM OLD BAN PROBIDED THAT BEING IN FACT MADE
HE SAID: "THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY CONFIRMED THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT HONG KONG'S WORKED IVORY ITEMS MADE STOCKS OF SOMALIAN IVORY ACQUIRED BEFORE THE U.S. THERE IS ADEQUATE ASSURANCE OF THE IVORY FROM SUCH OLD STOCKS."
ITEMS
MR CHEUNG SAID THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO RECEIVED UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING THE STOCK OF 28 TONNES OF IVORY CONFISCATED BY THE BURUNDI GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN RECOGNISED BY CITES.
"ACCORDING TO OUR INFORMATION FROM THE CITES SECRETARIAT, THE INTO THE LEGAL CONFISCATED BURUNDI IVORY WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR IMPORT UNITED STATES ON TWO CONDITIONS.
"THE FIRST CONDITION IS THAT THE SALE OF IVORY AND DISPOSITION OF ALL OF THE PROCEEDS MUST MEET WITH CITES REQUIREMENTS AND WILL BE DIRECTLY USED FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSE, WHILE THE SECOND REQUIRES
IN SUCH IVORY MUST MEET WITH THE THAT THE TRADE IN SUCH IVORY
THE REQUIREMENTS OF AFRICAN U.S.
ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT AND RELEVANT FOREIGN LAW, HE ADDED.
H
IVORY TRADERS WHO WISH ΤΟ MAKE ENQUIRIES CAN CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT'S FAUNA CONSERVATION SECTION AT 3-7332123 OR 3-7332124.
MR CHEUNG WARNED THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT OR EXPORT
ACCORDANCE WITH IVORY NOT UNDER AND IN
BY A LICENCE ISSUED
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
"OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE ΤΟ HEAVY FINES, MANDATORY FORFEITURE OF THE SPECIMENS, HE ADDED.
IMPRISONMENT
AND
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