§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spot checks have been made by the Hong Kong authorities on ivory-holding premises since 19 October 1990; and if any irregularities were discovered.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 1 February 1991]: A total of 142 spot checks have been made by the Hong Kong authorities on ivory-holding premises since 19 October 1990. No irregularities were discovered.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of possession licences issued to holders of ivory stocks in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 1 February 1991: As at 31 January 1991, there were 983 possession licences held by 868 commercial ivory stockholders in Hong Kong.
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§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current total of all ivory known to be held in Hong Kong; and on what date it was assessed.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 1 February 1991]: When last assessed on 17 July 1990, the total commercial ivory stock held in Hong Kong was 463 tonnes to the nearest tonne.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the information on countries of origin of tusks held in Hong Kong has been forwarded to the World Wide Fund for Nature.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 1 February 1991]: Information on the countries of origin of tusks held in Hong Kong was forwarded to WWF Hong Kong on 1 February 1991.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any ivory has been confiscated by the Hong Kong authorities since 17 October 1990; and if any prosecutions for illegal export have been entered since that date.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 1 February 1991: A total of 20.1 kg of worked ivory was seized by the Hong Kong authorities between 17 October 1990 and 31 January 1991. This ivory will be confiscated if the prosecutions to be entered result in convictions. During the period, one prosecution for illegal exportation involving 10,091 pieces of ivory name seals and blocks seized in Japan was entered and was successful.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of ivory exported from Hong Kong since midnight on 17 July 1990.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 1 February 1991]: Since midnight on 17 July 1990, Hong Kong has fully complied with the requirements of CITES in respect of trade in African elephant ivory. Since that date there have been no exports of ivory except as expressly provided for under the convention.