TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 56

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 300930Z FCO

TELNO 3152

OF 30084OZ OCTOBER 90

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013221

MDHIAN 6704

TOP COPY Q DIST?

HKC Los

30

พ

YRTELNO 2003: IVORY PQS

1. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SEIZURES OF SPECIMENS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 1990 WAS 218. THIS FIGURE COVERS ALL OF THE SEIZED QUANTITIES SET OUT IN OUR FAX OF 22 OCTOBER.

2. THE 549 POSSESSION LICENCES ISSUED TO THE SAME NUMBER OF NON- COMMERCIAL STOCKHOLDERS COVER A TOTAL OF 16 TONNES (TO THE NEAREST TONNE) OF IVORY. THESE LICENCES ARE REQUIRED ONLY IN RESPECT OF HOLDINGS OF 5KG OR MORE. DURING THE RESERVATION PERIOD, WE AUTHORISED THE EXPORT OF 19.4KG OF IVORY PERSONAL EFFECTS UNDER TWO EXPORT LICENCES. SINCE THE END OF THE RESERVATION, WE HAVE AUTHORISED THE EXPORT OF 6.1KG OF IVORY PERSONAL EFFECTS UNDER ONE EXPORT LICENCE WHERE PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE IMPORTING COUNTRY HAD BEEN GIVEN.

3. NON-COMMERCIAL STOCKS CAN STILL BE LEGALLY EXPORTED. EXPORTATION OF IVORY PERSONAL EFFECTS IN EXCESS OF 5KG REQUIRES AN EXPORT LICENCE AND EVIDENCE OF PERMISSION TO IMPORT FROM THE COUNTRY CONCERNED. EXPORTS OF IVORY PERSONAL EFFECTS OF 5KG OR LESS ARE EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING CONTROL IN HONG KONG. WE THEREFORE HAVE NO STATISTICS ON EXPORTS OF IVORY PERSONAL EFFECTS OF 5KG OR LESS. RANDOM CHECKS OF DEPARTING PASSENGERS AT THE AIRPORT AND OTHER CUSTOMS CONTROL POINTS HAVE TURNED UP NO EVIDENCE OF THE REGULAR EXPORT AS PERSONAL EFFECTS OF IVORY PIECES WEIGHING LESS THAN 5KG.

WILSON

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