TNAG-2033-FCO40-2896-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 83

I. ENCOURAGEMENT TO POACHING

It is nonsense to suggest that our decision to enter a Reservation on Hong Kong's behalf is any threat to living elephants or will provide a new outlet for poachers. Hong Kong has already imposed a total ban on imports, which will ensure that there is no loophole for the entry of illegal ivory onto the market and therefore no incentive for

poaching.

It would make no sense to try to import ivory illegally into Hong Kong where there is already a huge stock of legally-acquired ivory.