XN000022-1989-04-09 — Page 5

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1989

IVORY IMPORTS FROM SOMALIA TO BE BANNED

* * * * *

(SUNDAY)

KONG DIRECTLY

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT APPLICATION FOR IVORY IMPORTS INTO HONG OR INDIRECTLY FROM SOMALIA WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS FROM MAY 23 THIS YEAR.

ΤΟ THE

UNITED STATES AND ON IVORY FROM UNITED STATES WITH

THE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED A BAN IMPOSED BY

EXPORTED FROM SOMALIA GOVERNMENT ON ALL IVORY SOMALIA RE-EXPORTED BY A THIRD COUNTRY EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 24 THIS YEAR.

IN ADDITION, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO BAN ALL IVORY

COUNTRY FROM ANY

WHICH IMPORTS SOMALIAN 1VORY AFTER A BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY

OR 24,

WHICH IMPORTS FROM SOMALIA DURING THE

COMING THREE-MONTH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES ITS IVORY

GRACE PERIOD

GRACE PERIOD.

THE SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE

CHEUNG, SAID:

FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR

M.K.

THE

AND

HONG

"IN ORDER THAT KONG'S WORKED IVORY CAN CONTINUE TO ENTER

U.S.. THE DEPARTMENT WILL NO LONGER PROCESS IMPORT APPLICATIONS FOR IVORY FROM SOMALIA EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AS FROM MAY 23 THIS YEAR.

"THIS BAN WILL REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

T

HE SAID THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE WERE VERY FEW DIRECT

THE QUANTITIES OF AND INDIRECT IMPORTS OF IVORY FROM SOMALIA.

SUCH IMPORTS ONLY AMOUNTED TO 12.6 TONNES AND 13.4 TONNES RESPECTIVELY.

CONVENTION

AND FAUNA

FOR APPLICATION

"ALL THESE IMPORTS WERE VERIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD MR CHEUNG SAID, ADDING THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPORT FROM SOMALIA SO FAR THIS YEAR.

ON

FLORA," IVORY

MR CHEUNG SAID THE IVORY TRADERS' ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND IT HAD EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE BAN.

MORE THAN 740,000 DECLARATIONS AND OATHS IN 1988

THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S (CNTA) PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES HAVE HANDLED 742,403 DECLARATIONS AND OATHS DURING 1988.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CNTA SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE MOST POPULAR TYPES OF DECLARATIONS BEING ADMINISTERED WERE DECLARATIONS OF TRUE COPIES OF DOCUMENTS, AND THOSE CONCERNING EMIGRATION MATTERS AND LABOUR DISPUTES AND APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS.

THERE ARE