Hong Kong officials refuse to publish list of commercial ivory owners despite pressure

Conservation officials have ruled out making public a list of Hongkongers licensed to possess ivory for commercial purposes, citing privacy concerns.

Campaigners against the ivory trade had hoped a public list would improve transparency in the secretive trade and help them check whether rules were being enforced. Environment Secretary Wong Kam-sing said last summer that the government would consider the idea.

The call came amid growing pressure for a complete ban on ivory sales. Last year, protests prompted several stores including Wing On, Yue Hwa and Chinese Arts and Crafts to end ivory sales. The government also agreed after years of debate to start burning its vast stock of more than 30 tonnes of ivory seized from smugglers.

But making public the names of licensed ivory owners "would involve disclosure of personal information and those related to the business of the licensees, which is considered inappropriate", a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.

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The decision comes despite the fact the mainland makes names and addresses of licensed ivory retailers and carvers available for public inspection. Licensees in Hong Kong must also display their licences - which include details of the amount of ivory they possess - at their place of business.