TNAG-1953-FCO40-2782-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 8

Background

1. The Poon family are prominent figures in the ivory trade in Hong

Kong. In Hong Kong, they operate the Tat Hing Ivory Wares Factory

and Tat & Co Ltd. They are also believed to run ivory trading firms

in France and USA, and on ivory factory in the United Arab Emirates.

2. Since January 1987, the Hong Kong Government has made a total of 87 seizures of illegal ivory. None was from organisations or

premises owned by the Poon family. Ten consignment checks have been made in their factories by Customs officers, the latest on 25/26

May. No irregularities were detected.

3. An ITN report of 10-12 May made reference to the Poon family business and alleged that it was involved in the processing of poached ivory and the illegal shipment of worked ivory. These

allegations have been investigated by the Hong Kong Government, who

found that the details related to transactions made before the

imposition of export licence control on ivory in August 1988.

programme inaccurately suggested that the situation prevailing before August 1988 was still continuing.

The

4. The Hong Kong Government has recently stepped up its efforts against the smuggling of ivory by:-

(a)

(b)

forming a Special Task Force to investigate and suppress

any illegal importation and exportation of ivory through

Hong Kong. The Poons are among the major targets for close

investigation; and

taking its secret control one step further by taking action

to register and mark all raw ivory and large cut pieces

imported before January 1986 (from January 1986 onwards all

these stocks have already been registered and marked).