HC Deb 25 January 1990 vol 165 cc801-2W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made an assessment of the effect of his decision to release for sale ivory stocks in Hong Kong on the population of African elephants.

Mr. Maude

Hong Kong is committed to comply in full with the CITES ban. The United Kingdom reservation is designed to give the territory a reasonable period in which to adjust to this. In the meantime, Hong Kong has imposed a total ban on exports to all CITES parties and on imports, which will ensure that there is no loophole for the entry of illegal ivory onto the market. There should, therefore, be no adverse consequences for the African elephant.