Why Hong Kong’s ivory ban is not enough to end demand or save elephants
- Banning the ivory trade without addressing the demand for ivory products only forces the trade underground and makes it even harder to stop
- Hong Kong needs to ban the sale of antique ivory and remove demand before it can give elephants the protection they deserve
On December 31, 2021, Hong Kong at last officially banned the sale of elephant ivory. The culmination of a three-year-long process, the ban prohibits its import, re-export and commercial possession, with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) fine.
For decades, it was a well-known ivory-carving centre, had a thriving retail trade and was a leading re-exporter of both worked and raw ivory tusks.
In another case from 2016, an undercover officer purchased a pair of ivory chopsticks in an arts and crafts shop in Sheung Wan which were proven to be post-Cites ivory.
These cases, two of many, illustrate that even with an international trade ban in place, demand for ivory in Hong Kong remains high, with traders easily disguising post-Cites ivory as legal ivory and selling it.
As of November 2021, there were still 47.1 tonnes of ivory left in the Hong Kong market. As an owner of an ivory art and craft store recently stated, most sales in the past came from either exports or tourism. Now, with the export ban and vastly reduced tourism, sales have dropped sharply, which is why so much ivory remained unsold by the end of 2021.
Now the danger is that traders might try to sell their remaining stock on the black market, passing it off as antique ivory. For most people who lack proper equipment, it is impossible to distinguish antique ivory from illegal elephant ivory, especially for small pieces. This creates another loophole that will let the illegal elephant ivory trade continue and demand remain high.
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Outside our city, other jurisdictions are taking a more proactive approach. In New York, the state’s ivory law prohibits the sale, offer for sale, purchase, trade, barter or distribution of elephant and mammoth ivory articles and rhinoceros horn.
There are limited exceptions which are regulated and licensed by the Department of Environmental Conservation, giving the government full control over all trade in ivory articles and rhinoceros horn.
The domestic sale, import and export of elephant ivory, as well as all types of ivory products, are now completely prohibited, as is the public display of elephant ivory and ivory products for sale.
Sadly, the answer to our question is “no” – Hong Kong’s ban does not go far enough. With such wide loopholes and thriving demand, it does not take an experienced conservationist to predict that wildlife criminals will continue to bring elephant ivory into Hong Kong and that unscrupulous traders will continue to try to sell it.
Hong Kong needs to ban the sale of antique ivory and take proactive measures to bring down demand immediately. Only then can we break this vicious cycle and give elephants the protection they deserve.
Jovy Chan is manager of wildlife conservation at WWF-Hong Kong