§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the staffing and budget of the special task force set up in Hong Kong to investigate and suppress illegal imports and exports of ivory; and how many cases have been investigated and seizures made to date.
§ Mr. EggarThe special task force set up by the Customs and Excise Department in Hong Kong consists of one senior superintendent, one assistant superintendent, four senior inspectors and four inspectors. The task force does not have a separate budget but shares the resources of the Customs and Excise Department as is necessary for its duties. Since the task force was established on 1 June 1989, a total of 35 cases have been investigated. Seizures were made in two cases. Two cases are pending.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current estimated stock of elephant ivory in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. EggarThe current estimated stock of ivory imported into and held in Hong Kong under CITES regulations is approximately 500 tonnes of raw ivory and 170 tonnes of worked ivory.