XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

"MINORITY INTERESTS WILL BE CATERED

FOR MORE FULLY THAN IS

POSSIBLE IN A CONVENTIONAL TELEVISION SYSTEM.

"APART FROM ENRICHING VIEWERS' CHOICE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CABLE TELEVISION WILL OPEN UP ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETAILERS AND ADVERTISERS AND STIMULATE GROWTH IN THE LOCAL PROGRAMME

PRODUCTION INDUSTRY.

MARKETED TO CHINESE

INTEREST IN

"A STEADY SUPPLY OF LOCAL PROGRAMMES COMMUNITIES OVERSEAS SHOULD ALSO HELP TO ENCOURAGE MAINTAINING LINKS WITH HONG KONG. SHE SAID.

rt

HELP BEING CONSIDERED FOR IVORY WORKERS * * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS URGENTLY CONSIDERING HOW, IF AT ALL. AMELIORATE THE EFFECTS OF THE BAN ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES. THE HON ANSON CHAN. SAID LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

IT CAN

IVORY. IN THE

MRS CHAN NOTED THAT OVER THE YEARS HONG KONG HAD MADE QUIET. BUT VERY WORTHWHILE PROGRESS IN THE GREATER PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES TRADED THROUGH THE TERRITORY, BUT NONE HAD CAUGHT THE WORLD'S IMAGINATION AND PUBLIC ATTENTION MORE THAN THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT FROM EXTINCTION.

"WE HAVE ARGUED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM THAT TO THE ELEPHANT, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO RUIN THE TRADE.

PRESERVE

"FAR BETTER, WE HAVE SAID. TO STOP THE KILLING. BUT MEET THE EXISTING BUT HOPEFULLY RESIDUAL DEMAND FOR IVORY FROM THE CONTROLLED STOCKS OF IVORY AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD FROM HONG KONG," SHE SAID.

HOWEVER, AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAD DETERMINED THAT INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN IVORY MUST CEASE, RESULTING IN IVORY TRADERS AND WORKERS. FACING VERY DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO PROVIDE SOME HELP TO THOSE WORKERS WHO MIGHT LOSE THEIR JOBS.

"WE ARE WORKING ON A SCHEME TO RETRAIN THOSE WHO MAY SEEK NEW SKILLS AND. AT THE SAME TIME. ASSIST THOSE WHO MAY SEEK ALTERNATIVE JOBS IN FINDING SUITABLE OPENINGS." MRS CHAN SAID.

AS TO HELP FOR THE TRADERS. SHE SAID THERE COULD BE NO QUESTION OF THE GOVERNMENT COMPENSATING THEM FOR THEIR LOSSES AS THE BAN HAD BEEN IMPOSED ON HONG KONG, AS ON ALL OTHER PARTIES ΤΟ THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL

ENDANGERED SPECIES. BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

TRADE IN

THE

/MRS CHAN