TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 181

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BROIT

From The Minister of State

The Hon Francis Maude MP

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

HKC151

Robert A McCrindle Esq MP House of Commons London SW1A OAA

Den Robert,

London SW1A 2AH

R

8 August 1989

Thank you for your letter of 24 July to Simon Glenarthur about Hong Kong and the ivory trade.

The policy of the Hong Kong Government on the ivory trade already conforms strictly with the requirements of the Conventions on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, in the light of increased international concern over the fate of the African elephant and as a result of a review, the Hong Kong Government announced in June certain enhanced controls to combat illegal trading. The registration and marking of raw ivory has been extended to cover all stocks acquired before January 1986; since then all raw ivory has been marked and registered. The Hong Kong authorities have set up a special Customs Task Force to investigate and suppress any illegal trade through Hong Kong. From 1 August 1989 fines for violating the Hong Kong laws on endangered species have been increased five-fold.

The CITES Conference in October 1989 will consider increasing the protection afforded to the African elephant by uplifting its status from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I, so making all trade in ivory illegal. Hong Kong supports this ban in principle but is also concerned about the 670 tonnes of legally acquired ivory held in the Territory. Pending discussion at the CITES Conference, in June 1989 Hong Kong suspended the issue of further import licences for raw ivory from all sources.

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Francis Maude

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