XN000022-1978-06-22 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1978

HONG KONG NOW COMPLYING WITH THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION

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HONG KONG IS COMPLYING, WITHOUT RESERVATION WITH THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION, WHICH PROTECTS AND CONSERVES ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS BY PROVIDING FOR CONTROL ON TRADE TO BE IMPOSED BY PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION.

THIS FOLLOWS THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULES) ÖRDER 1978, WHICH COMES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE ORDER ENABLES HONG KONG TO LIFT ITS RESERVATIONS AS REGARDS ELEPHANTS AND REPTILES WHICH IT ENTERED WHEN IT FIRST RATIFIED THE CONVENTION TWO YEARS AGO.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS ORDER ADDS THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT AND IVORY AND CERTAIN REPTILE SPECIES TO THE SCHEDULES OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE 1976 WHICH CONTROLS THE POSSESSION, IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

THE ORDER ALSO BRINGS THE SCHEDULES TO THE ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH THE MOST RECENT VERSION OF THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION AND PROVIDES FOR UNIFORM FEES PAYABLE UNDER THE ORDINANCE FOR BOTH ANIMALS AND BIRDS.

HE SAID THAT THE MAIN EFFECT OF THESE CHANGES IS THAT IMPORTS OF IVORY AND CERTAIN TYPES OF REPTILE SKIN WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY WHEN THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY EXPORT PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OR BY RE-EXPORT LICENCES ISSUED BY THE RE-EXPORTING COUNTRIES.

HOWEVER, THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF MANUFACTURED IVORYWARE AND MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS MADE OF REPTILE SKIN WILL NOT BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF OUR RESERVATION IN RESPECT OF ELEPHANTS WOULD MAKE OUR EXPORTS OF IVORY PRODUCTS MORE ACCEPTABLE TO THE 44 COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SO FAR RATIFIED THE CONVENTION.

HE SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 11 THIS YEAR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH TAKES OVER A QUARTER OF OUR TOTAL IVORYWARE EXPORTS, ONLY ADMITS IMPORTS OF IVORYWARE ORIGINATING FROM COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES THAT ARE PARTY TO THE CONVENTION. BY WITHDRAWING OUR RESERVATIONS ON THE CONVENTION, HONG KONG'S IVORYWARE PRODUCTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED INTO THE USA. THIS IS IMPORTANT AS THE IVORYWARE INDUSTRY PROVIDES JOBS FOR SOME 2,000 PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WITH ANNUAL EXPORT EARNINGS IN THE REGION OF $113 MILLION.

/HE ALSO SAID