WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990
13
PRACTICAL STEPS TAKEN TO ASSIST IVORY WORKERS
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN PRACTICAL STEPS TO ASSIST THOSE FORMERLY EMPLOYED IN THE IVORY CARVING INDUSTRY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THESE INCLUDED HELPING THE DISPLACED IVORY WORKERS TO FIND
PART-TIME ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT AND ARRANGING
TRAINING COURSES IN BONE AND HORN CARVING IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY THE HONG KONG MANUFACTURING WORKERS UNION, SHE SAID.
IVORY
WINDING UP THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, MRS CHAN
HAD NOTED THAT ON JUNE 29, MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
APPROVED EXPENDITURE OF SOME $5.88 MILLION TO MEET THE COST OF THESE COURSES AND TO PROVIDE FOR A MONTHLY SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE OF $2,500 TO EACH WORKER PARTICIPATING IN THE RE-TRAINING SCHEME.
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO TO ALTER
ENACT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAD LED TO THE NEED TO
THE
THE BILL, GOVERNMENT DID SYMPATHISE WITH THOSE WHOSE LIVELIHOOD HAD BEEN
INTERNATIONAL ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE CONVENTION ON THE
TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES) BAN, MRS CHAN SAID.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS IN SPECIFIC RECOGNITION OF THEIR DIFFICULTIES THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD PERSUADED THE UNITED KINGDOM TO ENTER A SIX-MONTH RESERVATION, ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG, TO ENABLE LOCAL TRADERS TO TRY AND DISPOSE OF AS MUCH OF THEIR STOCKS AS HAD AL80 POSSIBLE TO COUNTRIES WHO WERE NOT PARTIES TO CITES, OR WHO ENTERED RESERVATIONS.
THIS NOTING THAT THIS SIX-MONTH PERIOD WOULD EXPIRE ON JULY 17
NECESSARY SAID IT WAS
THAT THE YEAR, MRS CHAN
REQUISITE LOCAL LEGISLATION BE ENACTED BEFORE
IN ORDER TO FULFIL HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.
THAT DATE
BY "THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT FELT ABLE TO ACCEDE TO REQUESTS THE IVORY WORKSHOP OPERATORS FOR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE
ΤΟ COMPENSATION
COVER STARTING UP NEW
LOSSES AND INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO BUSINESSES.
FORM OF
ASSIST
CASH
THEM IN
**
PUBLIC "AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
OF INTEREST-FREE (WHETHER IN THE FORM OF OUTRIGHT GRANTS OR SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRIES OR TRADES WHICH AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN ECONOMIC OUR CONTROL, MRS CHAN SAID.
OR
COMMERCIAL
FUNDS LOANS ) ARE ADVERSELY BEYOND CIRCUMSTANCES
"EVEN IF WE WERE TO CONSIDER SUCH A COURSE, IN WOULD FACE ENORMOUS PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN DECIDING WHO
SHE ADDED. ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE AND ON WHAT BASIS,
THIS
WE CASE, SHOULD BE
/MRS CHAN