Update | Hong Kong to destroy 28 tonnes of seized ivory after advisers endorse plan
U-turn will mean incineration of 28 tonnes of tusks, amid hopes move will send out message to rest of world on the protection of elephants
Hong Kong has boosted the fight against the illegal ivory trade by deciding to follow international examples and destroy most of its stockpile of confiscated tusks.
The move represents a U-turn from last year, when the city's advisers on endangered species refused to support a proposal to destroy the ivory by incineration.
At least 28 tonnes of ivory now held by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will be incinerated at a chemical waste facility in Tsing Yi.
Another 1.6 tonnes would be kept for education, scientific or other purposes allowed by an international treaty, said the Endangered Species Advisory Committee, which approved the destruction yesterday. Chairman Paul Shin Kam-shing said the decision was unanimous and hoped it would set an example.
He said: "The committee calls upon countries all over the world to make concerted efforts in combating the illegal poaching of elephants and to undertake rigorous measures to protect elephants."
Alex Hofford, programme director of Hong Kong for Elephants, said: "It's great to finally see the government joining others around the world in taking the lead on this."
But he opposed the use of ivory in schools. "We don't think there is any place for ivory in the classroom ... It's like handing out bags of drugs to students to educate them about the drug trade."