IVORY
RECE
HKC IS!!
TO MAY 1990
→Y
PA
216
1.
We entered a six-month Reservation on behalf of Hong Kong on
18 January against the CITES ban on international commercial trade
in ivory. This was to enable Hong Kong to dispose of some of its
legal ivory stocks and to give time to retrain ivory workers.
2.
Since then we have received 350 letters from MPs and 3,500 from
members of the public, critical of our action. We have also
received over 100 MPs' questions, mainly from Mr Tony Banks MP.
After an initial flurry of protest, hostile interest was maintained
following an allegation by Doctor Leakey, Director of the Kenya
Wildlife Service, that the Reservation had lead to an increase in
poaching in East Africa of ivory destined for Hong Kong. No
evidence has emerged of involvement by Hong Kong, and more recently
Doctor Leakey has stated that the price of ivory has fallen to such
an extent because of lack of markets that ivory poaching in Africa
is no longer worthwhile.
3.
A point which many critics have latched on to concerns the total
stocks in Hong Kong. These were estimated at 670 tonnes in
mid-1989, but found to be 474 tonnes when registration of stock was
completed in January 1990. Of these, 116 tonnes lacked CITES
documentation for a variety of reasons, including lost documentation
and stock acquired before the Convention came into force. There has
been considerable speculation that the 116 tonnes might be illegal
stocks.
Interest in this aspect continues.
4. In the meantime, we have made it clear that the Reservation will
be withdrawn on 18 July. The Hong Kong Legisative process is on
course to introduce the ban when we withdraw the Reservation in
July.
5. Regarding progress on the purpose of entering the Reservation:
The Carvers' Union believe 20% of carvers have found alternative
employment while 400 are expected to participate in part-time
BUSAGA
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.