TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 63

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Reference

شا

GF

Mr Paul Miss Masden

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1315

MY VISIT TO HONG KONG: 8-13 OCTOBER: IVORY

1.

I had useful discussion with Mr Wilson in Economic

Services Branch on Ivory. He has recently taken over the

portfolio and seems to know what he is doing.

2.

Compensation or special arrangements for Ivory traders

is still very much an issue in Hong Kong and the Ivory

traders frequently try to see OMELCO members. The

Agriculture and Fisheries Department is now considering a

proposal for low interest loans for traders who are facing

genuine hardship. And the loans would really only be to

meet serverance liabilities. This is something that traders have asked for but have been unable to come up with any

concrete examples of.

3. The response to the courses offered by the Vocational Training Council has in fact been very good. As at the beginning of October, 599 carvers had applied for the bone carving course. Thus far a course in the evening for

80 persons and a course in the day for 160 persons had been

set up.

Funds have been sought for a further evening course

for 80 persons.

Ivory carvers have also enroled in other

courses in the VTC. The reason why the courses have proved so popular is that the Government is, exceptionally, offering HK $600 per week as subsistence for those attending

the courses this is much higher than the normal figure.

4.

I was told, please protect, that there is a rather

extraordinary proposal, being mooted by the Hong Kong World Widelife Fund, for a one off special sale of ivory from Hong Kong to Japan. This would be to match up a supply and

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