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SCMP Reporter

The handover could spell disaster for endangered species, conservationists warned last night.

 They fear an international pact on cross-border trade in rare animals and plants will no longer apply between Hong Kong and China from July 1.

  Director of the wildlife trade monitor, TRAFFIC East Asia, Judy Mills said: 'You could have a 100 tonnes of ivory move across the border on July 1. It is a matter of urgency.

   'We worry about so many things in the handover - we really need to worry about wildlife as well.'  Calling for new laws, she said: 'It makes capitalistic sense that bear bile farmers [in China] would be salivating over the idea of six million extra consumers for their products,' Ms Mills said.

  Such trade is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), which China and Britain have signed.

   But Jacques Berney, former adviser to CITES, said that if China decided to trade endangered wildlife with Hong Kong after June 30, it might prove difficult for the SAR to refuse.

  'Regarding the bile, of course for us it will not be international trade and we will not be able to tell them this is a violation of CITES.'     Dr Gary Ades, conservation manager of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens, said the cross-border pet and food trade could 'explode' if CITES was dropped.

    But the Agriculture and Fisheries Department conservation officer, Cheung Chi-sun, said the legislation which implements CITES would continue, as stipulated under the Basic Law.

  Hong Kong would remain a separate customs entity, although he admitted the department was discussing wildlife trade with China.

  'We are in contact with China's CITES management authority over the mechanics of ensuring that effective control of trade in endangered species between the SAR and elsewhere in China is maintained after June 30.' 



Flood of China ivory feared after handover