§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 19 July,Official Report, column 560, if the Hong Kong authorities are in contact with the university of Mainz which is currently exploring a technique for identifying rhino horn in medical preparations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo, but they would expect the CITES secretariat to publicise the techniques should they prove successful. Since the intention of the Hong Kong Government is to introduce legislation to ban the sale of all medicinal products claiming to contain rhino ingredients, positive identification of the ingredients is not necessary.