TNAG-2130-FCO40-3045-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 2

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large shipments

over 15 tons in total of ivory destined for

Hong Kong. This is all brand new. The last 10 months we have never had anything like this.

S.MI

R.L:

So you're here to try and raise money to do exactly what?

My deep concern is that we can't undo what's been done but I think we've got to keep up public pressure: we've got to remind people that the elephant poaching continues, it's by no means completely over; we've got to keep working on the demand side as well as keep working on the supply side. I have got to raise money to try and stop the poacher. I've also got to try and raise public attention to stop people buying ivory. S.M:

What are you...you're in charge of the parks so you have to try and stop poachers within those parks, so how would the money be spent? On two-way radios, that sort of thing?

R.L:

We need lots of equipment. The Wildlife Service in Kenya has been very badly rundown over the last 10 years, and if we're going to give the necessary security to the wildlife, as well as the security to the visitors to these areas, we've got radio equipment to buy, vehicles, spare parts for aircraft,

helicopters

d

there's any number of things that need to be done now, while we put together a proper financial budget for the next few years.

S.M:

Would an imposition of a total ban on the carving of ivory in Hong Kong change the situation? Wouldn't the poachers always

be there?

R.LL

No, I think the destruction of the stocks of ivory that are held would stop the trade because I think the message that would