TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 86

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Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many restaurant Mspections were carried out by the Hong Kong authorities in the second six months of 1989 to ensure no rare and ndangered species of animals and plants were offered for

e as food; and if any seizures were made.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 29 March 1990]: Eighty-two 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 were made involving one monitor lizard. one monkey (pet), one sea turtle carapace and 0-79 kg of crocodile meat.

Ivory

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Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many investiga- tions have been carried out by the special task force of ivory trade of the Customs and Excise Department ih Hong Kong since it was set up: and how many seizures of ivory it has made.

Mr. Waldegrave (holding answer 29 March 1990] Sixty-two investigations have been carried out by the special task force of the Customs and Excise Department in Hong Kong since its establishment. These investigations have resulted in 30 seizures of ivory.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Fore and Commonwealth Affairs how much ivory has been exported from Hong Kong since 26 February; and to which countries it was exported.

Mr. Waldegrave "holding answer 29 March 1990]: The Hong Kong authorities have been notified of some 35 kg ivory exports since 26 February 1990: 6 kg bound for Taiwan and 29 kg for Mexico.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Fore: and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the total very stockpile known to be in Hong Kong cannot be identified according to country of origin.

Mr. Waldegrave "holding answer 29 March 1990]: One hundred and sixteen tonnes are not supported by CITES documents and their countries of origin cannot be ascertained.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of the ivory in Hong Kong now known not to have CITES documenta- tion has been confiscated by the Hong Kong authorities.

Mr. Waldegrave holding swer 29 March 1990]: No.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Fore and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Goverment will urgently reconsider their decision to allow six-month reservation on behalf of Hong Kong ivory stocks; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave holding swer 29 March 1990]: No. We shall withdraw the reservation on 18 July. From that date Hong Kong will comply with the ban on international trade ivory.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Fore and Commonwealth Affairs if the elephant vory currenty held in Hong Kong under CITES regulations has been physically weighed by the authorities.

200 CAD 23 Job e

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 29 March 1990]: Yes.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Hong Kong management authority has now supplied the relevant statistical material relating to elephant ivory to the Hong Kong branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 29 March 1990]: Yes.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. pursuant to his reply of 22 March. Official Report, column 718, if he will give details of the export destination of the 50 tonnes of ivory exported from Hong Kong since the original declaration was made and in each case, whether it was raw or worked ivory.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 29 March 1990]: 1 refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 3 March. Volume 168. column 789.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham. North-West of 22 March. Officici Report, column 718. how many traders made voluntary declarations of ivory stocks held ich led to a figure of 670 tonnes of ivory stock in Hong Kong being given on 20 July 1989; and how many made declarations under the statutory requirements.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 29 March 1990: The estimated figure of 670 tonnes was based on voluntary declarations by some 630 traders. Following the introduction of possession licensing some 880 applications for possession of commercial ivory were received. Many of the applicants for possession licences are ivory carvers and smail retail shops holding small quantities of very.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of March to the hon. Member for Newham. North-West. Official Report, column 718. what was the nature of the inspections carried out by the Hong Kong authorities on the 116 tonnes of elephant very not possessing CITES documentation.

Mr. Waldegrave (holding answer 29 March 19501: The quantity of ivery held was checked physically against the amounts declared by those applying for possession licences.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 March to the hon. Member for Newham. North-West. Official Report, columns 717-15. by what means the Hong Kong authorities were able to establish the legal acquisition of the 116 tonnes of ivory which did net have CITES documentation; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 29 March 1901 1 cannot add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 22 March, Vol. 169, col. 717-18.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Afairs under what circumstances ivory entered Hong Kong withou: CITES documentation.