What an intriguing question was raised in the reports, "Ivory haul proves a tough sell to schools" (March 15) and "A 16-tonne headache for conservation officers" (March 14).
There are more elephant tusks in Hong Kong now (probably what remains of over 2,000 slaughtered elephants) than in many African countries where elephant populations have been depleted.
Is burning this ivory the best message to the increasing number of people buying it in Hong Kong and on the mainland?
Using ivory as an educational tool is important, but its use in schools needs a clear, associated educational programme. With security in mind, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department cannot even provide environmental organisations with the names of those schools.
The elephants now face a huge battle for survival due to the rampant ivory trade, with China as the main destination.
A recent survey by international marketing firm Ifop shows that 84 per cent of Chinese middle- and upper-middle-class consumers plan to buy ivory as greedy symbols of prestige, luxury and status.