TNAG-2130-FCO40-3045-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 32

BRIEFING FOR PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME: 22 FEBRUARY 1990

HONG KONG IVORY

HKC Isılı

K.

LINE TO TAKE

·8 MAR 1990

DE

INDE

Reservation has encouraged poaching?

Hong Kong is not a market for poached ivory because there is already a total ban on imports of ivory. And in any case Hong Kong only allows exports of legally-acquired ivory which has

CITES documentation.

138

Controls in Hong Kong?

We have every confidence in the strict controls on ivory within Hong Kong, which include licensing for the possession of quantities over 5kg and monitoring movements of ivory between licence holders.

Exports

Exports during the period of the Reservation are permitted only to countries which have not implemented the ban.

Evidence of Hong Kong complicity in poaching? (IF PRESSED)

-

If Dr Leakey can produce evidence of complicity by Hong Kong

traders in illegal trade in ivory we shall of course investigate.