Hong Kong is exploring measures to phase out the ivory trade
January 15, 2016
Hong Kong SAR is a key destination for illegal elephant ivory. So the announcement by its leader this week that it is seeking steps to ban the trade is big news.
That welcome assertion was made by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during his annual policy address. "We will take steps to ban totally the sale of ivory in Hong Kong," he said at a press conference following the speech, and "we will do it as quickly as we can."
In a statement, John F. Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Director of WCS's 96 Elephants Campaign, applauded the move.
"WCS believes this announcement is another critical step," he said in part, "in saving Africa's declining elephant populations that are at present relentlessly poached across Africa to supply the international ivory trade."
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