TNAG-1954-FCO40-2783-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 81

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FM FCO

TO DESKBY 14010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1282

OF 13183OZ JUNE 89

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HKCISI

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TOP COPY Q DIST ?

104

007155

MDHOAN 3135

IVORY.

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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT ARE AMENDING THEIR STANDARD LINE ON IVORY FOR ANSWERS TO LETTERS FROM THE PUBLIC. THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS COVER HONG KONG.

BEGINS

WE ARE AWARE OF CONCERN ABOUT THE CONTROL OF THE IVORY TRADE IN HONG KONG. IN MOST MATTERS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXERCISE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. THIS INCLUDES TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEY APPLY CITES CONTROLS THROUGH THEIR OWN SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO BAN TRADE IN IVORY AND THE REASONS FOR IT. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHARE OUR CONCERN AND HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT THE UPGRADING OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT TO APPENDIX I OF CITES.

HONG KONG STRICTLY ADHERES TO ALL OF THE CONSERVATION AND ENFORCEMENT MEASURES CALLED FOR BY CITES AND RECENTLY STRENGTHED ITS CONTROLS ON THE IMPORT OF WORKED IVORY. THE ONLY IVORY WHICH MAY LEGALLY BE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG AT PRESENT IS THT WHICH COMES FROM A CITES APPROVED SOURCE AND IS SUBJECT TO THE ISSUE OF A LICENCE.

ENDS

2.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS, IF POSSIBLE BY 14090OZ, PARTICULARLY ON WHETHER IN THE LAST LINE THE REGULATIONS ON IMPORTS APPLY TO PERSONAL AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL SHIPMENTS.

HOWE

YYYY

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