WHEN WAS THE RESERVATION WITHDRAWN AND HOW
The British Embassy in Berne delivered a Note to the
Swiss Government, the depositary power of CITES, on 17 July
informing them that the Reservation would be lifted with
effect from 18 July
THE RESERVATION LED TO THE DEATHS OF MORE ELEPHANTS AND AN
INCREASE IN POACHING
Dr Leakey, Head of the Kenya Wildlife Service, and others have
said that there was an increase in poaching immediately after
the world ban came into force in January and that this was
attributable to the Hong Kong Reservation. We have seen no
proof however of illegal exports of ivory to Hong Kong, which
banned imports of raw ivory in June last year. And we note with
satisfaction that Dr Leakey said in an interview with the Kenya
Times in March that the price of ivory had fallen to such
a low level because of the lack of markets that poaching was
no longer worthwhile.
THE RESERVATION WAS A FAILURE BECAUSE ONLY
WERE EXPORTED
TONNES OF IVORY
The Reservation was entered to allow Hong Kong an extra six months
to dispose of the ivory in an orderly fashion. The fact that the
traders have been unable in the event to sell the ivory does not
mean that we were not justified in giving them the time to
try. And the retraining of ivory workers has proceeded well, as the
figures prove.
HONG KONG STILL TRADING IN IVORY
Nonsense. We have always said that on 18 July Hong Kong will apply
CITES without exception. This will be the case. Hong Kong will comply
fully with the provisions of Articles II and VII of CITES. The only ivory which can be exported is that which falls within the very
strict personal possessions exemption of Article VII. No tourist souvenirs will qualify.
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