Are Hong Kong courts taking illegal wildlife trade seriously, despite tougher laws?

Reading Time:2 minutes

Hong Kong Customs displays seized ivory in August 2013. The haul of 1,120 ivory tusks, 13 rhino horns and five pieces of leopard skin was found inside a container ship which arrived from Nigeria. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:00pm, 11 Jun 2018Updated: 12:31pm, 15 Oct 2020

I refer to the recent seizure by Hong Kong customs officers of smuggled rhino horn and ivory, as well as dried shark fin and seahorse.

I believe everyone accepts that Hong Kong is a transit point for illegal wildlife trade. And the fact that, on May 1, penalties for offences under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, Cap 586, were increased to a maximum fine of HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) and imprisonment for 10 years suggests that the government accepts this too.

Unfortunately, our courts are not taking wildlife crime seriously. In one of the cases, 5.9kg of rhino horn and 410 grams of worked ivory worth a total of HK$1.2 million were seized from an arriving passenger at the airport. Yet, when the case went to court, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to only two months’ imprisonment.

If our courts don’t support the law enforcement effort and hand down deterrent sentences, Hong Kong will remain a transit point for illegal wildlife trade, threatening both the endangered species and Hong Kong’s reputation as an international city.

Kevin Laurie, Discovery Bay

City’s reputation on wildlife trade is a disgrace

Hong Kong has a reputation for being a transit point for illegal wildlife trade, and everything that the government does – from delaying laws to stop the sale of ivory to lax enforcement of existing ones – enhances that reputation. Hong Kong is a disgrace in this matter, when it should be leading the protection of endangered species around the world.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x