XN000022-1989-10-13 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1989

IVORY CONTROLS TIGHTENED UP FURTHER

HONG KONG'S CONTROLS ON THE IVORY TRADE WILL

BE TIGHTENED UP FURTHER WITH LICENSING REQUIREMENTS BEING EXTENDED TO COVER THE POSSESSION AND EXPORT OF ALL IVORY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

SPECIES)

THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS {PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED (EXEMPTION) (AMENDMENT} ORDER 1989, UNDER THE AN IMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE, TO THIS EFFECT WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

UNDER THE NEW CONTROL MEASURES, LICENCES WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE POSSESSION OF ANY RAW OR WORKED IVORY AS WELL AS THE EXPORT OF WORKED IVORY.

HOWEVER, THE POSSESSION AND EXPORT OF MANUFACTURED IVORY PRODUCTS WEIGHING NOT MORE THAN FIVE KILOGRAMS AND WHICH ARE NOT INTENDED FOR COMMERCIAL USE WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

*

"THE NEW MEASURES ARE THE LATEST MOVE BY HONG KONG TO HELP CONSERVE THE ELEPHANT SPECIES WHOSE POPULATION HAD RAPIDLY DECLINED OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR FRANK LAU, SAID.

MR LAU EXPLAINED THAT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONVENTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES), THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF RAW AND SIMPLY PREPARED IVORY HAD ALWAYS BEEN UNDER STRICT LICENSING CONTROL IN HONG KONG.

ON AUGUST 5 LAST YEAR, THE CONTROL ON IMPORT WAS UPGRADED TO INCLUDE WORKED IVORY AND, TO DEMONSTRATE HONG KONG'S SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO SAVE THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT FROM CONTINUED DECLINE, A MORATORIUM HAD BEEN IMPOSED ON THE IMPORT OF RAW IVORY SINCE JUNE 16 THIS YEAR.

ON

HE SAID WHETHER THE IMPORT BAN WOULD BE LIFTED WOULD DEPEND THE OUTCOME OF THE

CONFERENCE NOW BEING HELD IN LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND.

CITES

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW CURBS, HONG KONG'S LICENSING CONTROL SYSTEM WILL COVER IMPORT, POSSESSION AS WELL AS EXPORT OF ALL COMMERCIAL IVORY,

"THE ONLY EXEMPTION FROM IMPORT CONTROLS ARE WORKED IVORY FOR PERSONAL USE WEIGHING NOT MORE THAN ONE KILOGRAM, WHILE THE ONLY EXEMPTION FROM EXPORT AND POSSESSION CONTROLS ARE WORKED IVORY FOR PERSONAL USE WEIGHING NOT MORE THAN FIVE KILOGRAMS," MR LAU CONTINUED.

/HE SAID