TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 55

(Daff)

Ertur 635

Note for Foreign Secretary: Ivory control in Hong Kong

controlled.

The ivory trade in Hong Kong is strictly.

Licences are required:

HKCISI/1

(a)

to import;

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

(b)

to possess; and

SK OFFICER

(c) to export

Miss Mansory Mr Stone 0211

29 JAN 1990-

ESTRE Mein HK)

Action Taken

any quantity of ivory for commercial purposes. Personal

effects of worked ivory up to 1kg (in respect of import) and

5kg (in respect on possession and export) are exempt. At the

present time the issue of ivory import licences has been suspended for commercial shipments. To deter illegal imports

and enhance controls over existing stocks:

(a)

all ivory stocks in Hong Kong must be identified and

registered with the Hong Kong Management Authority;

a computer data base has been set up to monitor the

movement of all registered ivory;

(b) all companies dealing in commercial quantities of

ivory are required to take out possession licences;

(c)

(a)

(e)

the export of all commercial quantities of all forms

of ivory is required to be licensed in advance by

the Hong Kong Management Authority;

a Special Task Force has been set up in the Customs

and Excise Department. It works in close co-operation with the Agriculture and Fisheries

Department to investigate and suppress any illegal

ivory trade through Hong Kong;

maximum fines for violating our endangered species legislation have been increased 5-fold to HK$50, 000

(about US$6,400) to deter would-be offenders. This

is in addition to the mandatory forfeiture of

consignments found to be illegal.