TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 101

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dispose of their legally held stocks in an orderly fashion

and to allow time for ivory workers to find alternative

employment.

4. As Mr Black's letter points out, however, Hong Kong

ivory traders had considerable difficulty in disposing of

their stocks. Only a very small proportion of Hong Kong's

ivory stocks (about 6 tonnes out of a total of 474 tonnes

available for trade) was actually exported during the six

month Reservation period.

5.

The Hong Kong Government have now enacted legislation to

implement the CITES ban. This came into effect when our

Reservation was withdrawn with effect from 18 July. Hong

Kong legislation now fully reflects the provisions of the

CITES Convention. A potential loophole which might have

allowed tourists to export ivory of up to 5 kilos in weight

as personal effects was closed before the legislation took

effect.

6.

Mr Black refers to the decision taken by President Moi

of Kenya in July 1989 to burn 12 tonnes of poached ivory

tusks and argues that the Hong Kong Government should do

the same. Only a small proportion of Hong Kong's ivory

stocks (2.5 tonnes) is confiscated ivory which was illegally

acquired and the Hong Kong Government have no plans to destroy this. The UK has not yet reached a decision on how to dispose of its confiscated stocks. There is, in any

case, no obligation under CITES regulations to destroy stocks of confiscated ivory.

Roeland Manda

R M Marsden

CC5ACC/2