Hong Kong approves elephant ivory ban in landslide vote
World’s largest market will phase out sales of elephant tusks by 2021 under a three-step plan supported by lawmakers from across political spectrum
Elephant ivory will no longer be on sale legally in three years after Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to approve a ban on the “cruel business”.
Legislators in the world’s largest market for elephant ivory passed the bill, 49-4, just one month after Beijing shut down markets on the mainland.
Under the law, commercial sales of elephant tusks will be phased out by 2021 under a three-step plan that received support from lawmakers across the political spectrum.
Mainland China ban on ivory sales to come into force on Sunday
But a few pro-government lawmakers were against the ban, saying it threatened the livelihood of the tradesmen and craftsmen.
“This ban has disregarded the interests of the industry,” said Liberal Party’s Peter Shiu Ka-fai, who represents the retail wholesale sector and was one of the four “no” votes.
Shiu expressed worries about the livelihood of the city’s 370 licensed wholesalers who hold 77 tonnes of legal ivory, as well as 100 craftsmen who were over 60 years old.
