TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 103

RESTRICTED 內部文件

For information

on 26 September 1989

HKCISI

NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

XCRI(89) 29 23...

Copy No...

243

Reg R.A. els

THE IVORY TRADE IN HONG KONG

2/10

of

t ne

present

INTRODUCTION

This

memorandum informs Members situation of the ivory trade in Hong Kong following

(a) the unilateral import ban imposed by the USA,

EC and Japan;

(b) the proposal to formalise a ban on the ivory trade by means of amending the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

and Government's proposed action to tackle the issue.

BACKGROUND

2

International trade in endangered species, including the African elephant, is governed by CITES. Hong Kong is a party to CITES through the UK's ratification. The key parts of CITES are its three Appendices which list animals and plants which are subject to different degrees of control

3

(a)

Appendix I lists species threatened with extinction and commercial trade is prohibited,

(b) Appendix II lists less endangered species where commercial trade is allowed, but under strict international regulation; and

(c) Appendix III

lists species, certain populations of which are threatened. Other than the threatened populations, commercial trade in the species is not subject to regulation.

The provisions of CITES are so worded as to impose a total ban on any species included or uplisted to Appendix I disregarding whether these specimens (e.g. of ivory) were acquired before the date of inclusion or uplisting.

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