TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 35

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 30100OZ FCO

TELNO 1099

OF 300915Z MARCH 90

187

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нис Mkc (sil)

RECEIVED IN R

·CTRY!

3 0 MAR 1990

DESK OFFICE

INDEX

190

140406

MDHIAN 6639

YOUR TELNO 665 OF 271800Z MAR : IVORY

1. ANSWERS TO THE 23 PQ'S APPEAR BELOW. NOTE THAT FOR PQ'S (1722) (1723) (1725) (1737), WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH LICENSING AND EXPORTING PROCEDURES, WE FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION OF PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL NATURE, AND

THEREFORE INAPPROPRIATE.

2. ANSWERS TO REMAINING PQ'S ARE :

(1718) SIXTY TWO INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE SPECIAL TASK FORCE OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, RESULTING IN TWENTY SEIZURES OF IVORY.

(1719) IN SECOND HALF OF 1989, A TOTAL OF 92 PROSECUTIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED ARISING FROM ILLEGAL IMPORT, EXPORT AND POSSESSION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.

(1720) 82 RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1989 TO ENSURE THAT NO ENDANGERED SPECIES WERE ILLEGALLY OFFERED FOR SALE: THREE SEIZURES INVOLVING ONE MONITOR LIZARD, ONE MONKEY (PET), ONE SEA TURTLE CARAPACE AND 0.79KG CROCODILE MEAT WERE MADE.

(1724) HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF SOME 35KG IVORY EXPORTS SINCE 26 FEBRUARY 1990: 6KG BOUND FOR TAIWAN AND 29KG FOR MEXICO.

(1726) AMONGST THE COMMERCIAL STOCKS HELD IN HONG KONG, 116 TONNES WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY CITES DOCUMENTS AND THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

COULD NOT BE ASCERTAINED.

(1727) NO.

(1729) NO SALE OF CONFISCATED ANIMAL TUSKS, SKINS, ANTLERS WAS CONDUCTED DURING 1989. METHODS OF DISPOSAL INCLUDED RELEASING LIVE SPECIMENS TO THE WILD WHERE APPROPRIATE. SENDING SPECIMENS TO ZOOS,

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