XN000022-1990-07-04 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990

MRS CHAN PAID TRIBUTE ΤΟ THE HON ANDREW WONG AND HIS COLLEAGUES ON THE AD HOC GROUP ON IVORY, FOR THE VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THEY HAD GIVEN TO THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE DECISION BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO BAN THE COMMERCIAL IMPORT EXPORT OF RAW IVORY AND IVORY PRODUCTS.

AND

DEVOTED ITS TIME VALUABLE CHANNEL

AND

OF

THE

SHE NOTED THAT THE AD НОС GROUP HAD EFFORT TO THIS ISSUE AND HAD PROVIDED A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND REPRESENTATIVES OF IVORY TRADE.

"THEY HAVE APPROACHED THEIR TASK IN A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT WITH GREAT SENSITIVITY TO OUR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS, SHE SAID.

11

AND

CALL TO GIVE LOANS TO IVORY TRADE

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER OFFERING LOAN FACILITIES TO THE

BY IVORY TRADE BY ACCEPTING AS SECURITY IVORY STOCKS HELD

THE THEM, HON ANDREW WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR WONG SAID THE REQUEST WAS MADE BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP, OF THE OF WHICH HE IS THE CONVENER, TO STUDY THE IVORY TRADE IN VIEW LARGE SIZE OF THE STOCK HELD AND THE

MARKET OPENED TO THE

TRADE.

LIMITED

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, HE SAID THE AD HOC GROUP WAS AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED BUT HOPED THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO THE PROPOSAL IN HELPING THE TRADERS WHO WOULD FACE THE BAN ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE ON IVORY.

MR WONG SAID ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE FOR THE RE-TRAINING IVORY WORKERS WHO WOULD ALSO RECEIVE SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE DURING RE-TRAINING PERIOD.

OF

THE

AS FOR IVORY TRADERS AND OPERATORS, THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WOULD PROVIDE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AS APPROPRIATE, HE ADDED.

MR WONG NOTED THAT CITES, THE ACRONYM OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA, HAD DECIDED TO BAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN IVORY WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY THIS YEAR AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD SECURED A SIX-MONTH RESERVATION PERIOD FOR THE EXPORT OF EXISTING STOCK OF IVORY.

"HAVING CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE BILL. THE AD HOC GROUP IS IN UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT BEING PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, HONG KONG MUST BE SEEN ΤΟ BE PLAYING

ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

ITS

/"BY SEEKING