§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Gordon of 2 February,Official Report, column 404, what steps he has taken to establish that any ivory obtained directly or through intermediaries did not originate from illegally poached elephants.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 2 February,Official Report, column 405
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what grounds the United Kingdom has given approval to Hong Kong to reopen its markets in the ivory trade.
§ Mr. WaldegraveHong Kong banned imports of ivory in June 1989 and this is unaffected by the reservation that we have entered on behalf of Hong Kong. Also, in disposing of its stocks of ivory, Hong Kong will export only to countries which are not parties to CITES or which are parties to CITES and have entered appropriate reservations.
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§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the computerisation of the current ivory stocks in Hong Kong is now complete; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveSo far, data covering two thirds of the commercial stocks of ivory have been entered into the computer system.