TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 192

Х

OTHER OBSERVATION

There is growing awareness thoughout the world of the plight of the African elephant, and increasing support for

for tighter restrictions on trade in ivory and other elephant products. Austria, Hungary, Gambia, Kenya, Somali, Tanzania and the USA have proposed that the African elephant be transferred to Appendix I of CITIES. The US has introduced a ban on all ivory imports with the exception of hunting trophies taken in accordance with the existing ivory trade control system. Japan has introduced a ban on the import of worked ivory and all raw ivory except that from African ivory producing countries, and Hong Kong has suspended the issue of

of import licences for raw ivory.

On the other hand, countries such as Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana with establishment elephant conservation and management programmes, are anxious to ensure that any tightening of controls of trade in ivory

ivory does not prevent the sale of ivory resulting from the controlled culling which is necessary to relieve pressure on elephant habitats. At the African Elephant Working Group meeting in Botswana on 4-8 July Cameroon was asked to liaise between African elephant range states in order to facilitate the presentation of a resolution to the meeting of the Conference of the Parties in October that represents a concencus. Cameroon is to complete this activity by 31 August.

Hong Kong is also concerned to ensure that arrangements are made to permit the disposal of the existing stock of legally acquired ivory, should the Appendix I listing be adopted. Some of this stock was obtained from the EC,

EC, and Hong Kong would wish to re-export it to the Community.

The UK will ensure that the particular problems of Hong Kong are given due consideration in the discussions at the coming CITIES Conference.

forth-

Virginia Bottomley

MRS VIRGINIA BOTTOMLEY

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department of the Environment.