Tusk force: Hong Kong lawmakers back motion calling for crackdown on city's ivory trade
Government open to eventual ban on dealing in endangered species in city after non-binding motion wins overwhelming support in Legco
The government said it was open to tougher action against trade in endangered animal species - including an eventual ban on ivory trade in Hong Kong - after legislators yesterday overwhelmingly passed a motion calling on authorities to step up efforts.
The non-binding motion by Elizabeth Quat of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong asks the government to step up enforcement against smuggling of ivory tusks and other species. This includes increasing penalties and a move towards a ban on domestic trade in ivory.
READ MORE: Hong Kong government ‘open-minded’ about ivory ban in major policy shift
The motion was passed with support of 37 out of 38 legislators across the political spectrum.
They also passed an amendment, raised by the Civic Party's Claudia Mo Man-ching, urging the government to legislate against the sale or re-export of products containing ingredients extracted from endangered species using inhumane methods. These included Chinese medicines containing ingredients from bear gall bladders.
Quat said Hong Kong's reputation had been tainted as it became known as an international trading point for smuggled endangered animal species, including ivory tusks, rhino horns, fish maws and shark fins.
