XN000022-1990-03-23 — Page 4

FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1990

BILL PROVIDES MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL ON IVORY TRADE

* * * * *

HIGHLY ENDANGERED THE GAZETTE TODAY

A BILL TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO PROHIBIT MORE EFFECTIVELY

IVORY

OTHER AND COMMERCIAL IMPORT AND EXPORT OF ANIMAL OR PLANT PARTS OR SPECIES WAS PUBLISHED IN

(FRIDAY).

AND THE ANIMALS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IS DUE TO BE COUNCIL ON APRIL 4.

SPECIES) LEGISLATIVE

PLANTS (PROTECTION OF

ENDANGERED INTRODUCED INTO THE

ANIMALS

AND PLANTS LEGISLATION

ON

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE IS THE LOCAL WHICH GIVES EFFECT TO REQUIREMENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES).

HONG KONG IS A PARTY TO CITES THROUGH THE UK'S MEMBERSHIP.

SECTION 7B OF

LICENCE

THE

AND

APPLICATIONS

FOR

WHICH

ÅRE

UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT, ORDINANCE WILL EXPLICITLY STATE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE FISHERIES

MUST (DAF)

REFUSE INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL IMPORT OR EXPORT OF HIGHLY LISTED IN A NEW SIXTH SCHEDULE.

SPECIES ENDANGERED

TIME

THIS NEWLY INSERTED SCHEDULE WILL BE REVISED FROM TIME TO

I SPECIES, I.E. FAUNA AND FLORA TO TALLY WITH THE CITES APPENDIX SPECIES WHICH ARE THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION.

"CURRENTLY, SECTION 7 PROVIDES DAF WITH THE POWER LICENCE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR POSSESS ENDANGERED SPECIES.

то ISSUE A

THE

FOR

"WHEN HONG KONG NEEDS TO BAN COMMERCIAL TRADE IN A CERTAIN ENDANGERED SPECIES IN ORDER TO FULFIL ITS CITES OBLIGATIONS,

BY REFUSING INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY DO SO IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENCES ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

APPLICATIONS

LAST

"THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DOING SINCE JUNE 16

TH THE SPOKESMAN YEAR WHEN IVORY IMPORT INTO THE TERRITORY WAS BANNED, SAID.

IT IS INTENDED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT SHOULD COME EFFECT ON JULY 17 THIS YEAR, THE DAY WHEN HONG KONG IS OBLIGED TO A HALT TO ALL INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN IVORY THROUGH THE TERRITORY.

AT

A

CITES DECIDED

LAST CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL IVORY TRADE IN A BID TO CONSERVE THE WHICH IS FAST DECLINING IN NUMBERS.

BECAUSE OF HONG KONG'S UNIQUE POSITION

INTO

PUT

TO OCTOBER AFRICAN ELEPHANT,

BAN

AS THE BIGGEST IVORY UK ENTERED A PROCESSING

SIX-MONTH RESERVATION TO THE CITES DECISION ON THE TERRITORY'S BEHALF.

CENTRE IN THE

THE WORLD,

/THIS WAS