Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants (Amendment) Bill 2017 gazetted
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A Government spokesman said that the Government is committed to the protection of endangered species. There are growing and intensive calls from the international community for strengthened measures to control the international and local ivory trade to conserve elephants, in particular African elephants which are under imminent threat of extinction, and Hong Kong has a duty to be part of the international efforts and practices.
In December 2016, the Government announced a three-step plan to phase out the local trade in ivory in a single legislative exercise. The proposed Amendment Bill is to take forward the Government's commitment.
The first step is to ban the import and re-export of all elephant hunting trophies and the remaining post-Convention ivory items, for which their import, export and re-export are still permissible under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This step will take effect on the first commencement date of the Amendment Bill.
The second step is to ban the import and re-export of pre-Convention ivory and subject pre-Convention ivory in the local market to licensing control similar to the existing controls on post-Convention ivory three months after the ban in the first step.
The third step is to ban the possession for commercial purposes of all ivory. This step will take effect on December 31, 2021, after a grace period of about five years. After implementation of this step, the local trade of all ivory will be completely closed down.
Under all the three steps above, the current exceptions permitted under CITES which are limited to specific and stringent circumstances including scientific studies, education, law enforcement and personal or household effects (except for tourist souvenirs) will continue to be in force. In addition, under the second and third steps, the trade of antique ivory will continue to be allowed. The proposed arrangement is in line with international practice and will not adversely affect government's measures to conserve elephants.
Furthermore, in order to provide a sufficiently strong deterrent against illicit wildlife trade including ivory, and to send a clear message to the international and local communities that the Government is committed to the protection of endangered species and to combating wildlife trafficking, the Government will also increase the penalties under the Ordinance through the Amendment Bill.
The proposed amendments include imposing uniform maximum penalties for both commercial and non-commercial summary offences, promulgating a new set of penalties for offences convicted on indictment and increasing the maximum fine and imprisonment term. Subject to passage of the Amendment Bill, the increased penalties will apply to all scheduled species under the Ordinance in addition to elephants.
The Amendment Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 14.
Ends/Friday, June 2, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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