41
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1990
"THIS 'BREATHING' SPACE HAS GIVEN HONG KONG TRADERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPOSE OF THEIR IVORY IN A MORE ORDERLY WAY.
TO
"IT HAS ALSO ALLOWED WORKERS IN THE TRADE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE JOBS,
AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE AVAILABLE RETRAINING COURSES THOSE WORKERS NEEDING TO ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS, MRS CHAN SAID.
11
"CONTROLS TO IMPLEMENT THE BAN ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN IVORY MUST, HOWEVER, BE IN PLACE BY MID-JULY," SHE ADDED.
THE SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT CONTROLS OVER TRADE IN HIGHLY ENDANGERED SPECIES HAD BEEN EFFECTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WHO WOULD GIVE CONSIDERATION OR REJECT APPLICATIONS, AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, FOR A LICENCE TO IMPORT OR EXPORT.
11
"THIS HAS PROVED UNSATISFACTORY, MRS CHAN SAID.
ON
HIGHLY SPECIES CLAUSE
THE BILL INTRODUCES, IN CLAUSE THREE, A PROVISION REQUIRING THE DIRECTOR NOT TO ISSUE IMPORT OR EXPORT LICENCES IN RESPECT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES SAVE IN
SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES. THE CONCERNED ARE LISTED IN A NEW SIXTH SCHEDULE, INTRODUCED UNDER FOUR OF THE BILL.
"OF
WILL
THESE SPECIES, THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT IS THE ONE WHICH ATTRACT MOST ATTENTION," MRS CHAN SAID.
THAT, FROM IVORY
"THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS LEGISLATION WILL ENSURE JULY 17, 1990, NO COMMERCIAL IMPORT OR EXPORT OF RAW OR WORKED WILL BE PERMITTED," SHE ADDED.
"HOWEVER,
OF
IN LINE WITH CITES RULES, THE IMPORT AND EXPORT PERSONAL POSSESSIONS, OF PRECONVENTION STOCK, OF SCIENTIFIC SPECIMENS, EXHIBITS AND FOR OTHER NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IN THE PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE," THE SECRETARY EXPLAINED.
INTEREST
BE
"HONG KONG IS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND MUST SEEN TO BE PLAYING ITS ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, MRS CHAN SAID.
*T
WE
ARE FORCE,"
"WE TAKE OUR CITES OBLIGATIONS SERIOUSLY AND WE ALREADY HAVE
OVER TIGHTER CONTROLS
THE IVORY TRADE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. COMMITTED TO STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN ONCE IT COMES INTO SHE ADDED,
DEBATE ON THE BILL BIL WAS ADJOURNED.
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