TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 113

FROM

WWF UK

Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, MP,

Prime Minister

16 July 1990

2

טל..

Require that commercial traders holding more

2.

of

3.

their

ivory

than

A

5 kilos bonded

out at any

in ivory keep warehouse, with only sufficient being allowed one time to satisfy local demand and with a system whereby ivory all ivory sold locally is accounted for. Unless this is held under lock and key, we are convinced that attempts to smuggle ivory out of Hong Kong, particularly into Japan, will continue. There are about 880 registered owners of of more than 5 kilos of ivory at present in Hong Kong,

It would take which more than 600 are commercial traders.

stock check

check of each a minimum of four people to do a registered owner once a year under the current registration system, and this would not be enough to prevent smuggling. a bonded warehouse The only satisfactory alternative to

staff to carry out system would be a massive increase in

but owners, regular checks

this would be extremely expensive as well as less efficient.

of registered

held as

2.5 tonnes of ivory currently Destroy the confiscated stock by the Hong Kong Government. Taiwan burnt nearly 1 tonne of confiscated ivory at the end of May and it would be

of very positive a

sign

Hong Kong' ban ivory

if commitment to strict enforcement of followed suit.

the

it

The worldwide ivory ban is working remarkably well and the has not poaching of elephants has declined markedly although it has

If stopped.

can the ban

be kept watertight there is an excellent chance that poaching will decline still further and that the African elephant will become a conservation success

vital story. However, the battle is not yet won and a

part of the campaign is to ensure that Hong Kong now fully complies with its CITES obligations. We hope vory much that you will ensure this happens.

Yours sincerely,

Siman Lyder

Simon Lyster

Senior Conservation Officer (International)