XN000022-1988-07-29 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1988

FROM THE SAME DATE, NO SHIPMENT OF WORKED IVORY WILL BE ALLOWED INTO HONG KONG UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A VALID IMPORT LICENCE WHICH MUST BE APPLIED FOR, AND OBTAINED IN ADVANCE, FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY VALID DOCUMENTS INCLUDING EXPORT PERMITS FROM THE AUTHORITIES OF THE EXPORTING COUNTRIES AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF ACQUISITION FROM SOURCES APPROVED

THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES).

BY

THE NEW MEASURE ARISES FROM THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE (REPLACEMENT OF SCHEDULES) ORDER 1988 WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS WEEK.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR I CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR FRANK LAU, SAID THE EXISTING LAW PROVIDED FOR THE CONTROL OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF UNWORKED AND SIMPLY PREPARED IVORY TUSKS FROM ALL SPECIES OF ELEPHANTS BUT DID NOT PROVIDE FOR CONTROL OF IVORY BEYOND SIMPLE PREPARATION.

"THERE HAVE BEEN INDICATIONS SINCE 1987 THAT UNSCRUPULOUS IVORY TRADERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE EXPLOITING THIS LOOPHOLE IN THE EXISTING LAW BY IMPORTING INTO HONG KONG WORKED OR SCMI - WORKED IVORY ITEMS OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN AND DISGUISING THEM AS LOCALLY CARVED FOR RE-EXPORT,

MR LAU SAID.

IVORY

AND

**THIS 'LAUNDERING' HAS CAUSED CONCERN BOTH LOCALLY INTERNATIONALLY. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DECLARED THAT IT WOULD BAN THE IMPORT OF ALL IVORY, IN WHATEVER FORM, FROM COUNTRIES WHICH IMPORT SUCH ITEMS.

"FURTHERMORE, AT THE 1987 CITES CONFERENCE HELD IN CANADA, A RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED URGING PARTIES ΤΟ TIGHTEN THE CONTROL OF WORKED IVORY.

"THE NEW CONTROL BEING INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG WILL MEET HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND SAVE THE LOCAL IVORY TRADE FROM A TOTAL BAN ON IVORY EXPORTS ΤΟ THE UNITED STATES, HONG KONG'S LARGEST EXPORT MARKET, WHICH WOULD IN TURN LEAD ΤΟ CONSIDERABLE JOB LOSSES.

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MR LAU POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN INCREASES IN WORKED IVORY IMPORTS INTO HONG KONG IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WITH THE VALUE OF THESE IMPORTS BEING $55 MILLION IN 1986 AND $61 MILLION LAST YEAR.

HE SAID THE TIGHTER CONTROL OF IVORY ON THE BASIS OF THE CURRENT LEVEL OF IMPORTS WAS ESTIMATED TO REQUIRE OVER 1,200 WORKED IVORY SHIPMENTS TO BE INSPECTED EACH YEAR.

THE NEW