To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of possession licences issued to holders of ivory stocks in Hong Kong.
As at 26 February 1992, there were 963 possession licences held by commercial stockholders in Hong Kong.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of items from endangered species seized by the Hong Kong authorities in 1991 and the prosecution arising from such seizures.
In 1991, the Hong Kong authorities seized a variety of specimens of endangered species from which 109 prosecutions arose.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any exports of ivory from Hong Kong have been authorised since 17 October 1990.
No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised by the Hong Kong authorities between 17 October 1990 and 25 February 1992 except for two pre-convention specimens of worked ivory of 0·1 kg each.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of ivory exported from Hong Kong during 1991.
No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised by the Hong Kong authorities in 1991 except for one pre-convention specimen of 0·1 kg.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current quantity of all ivory known to be held in Hong Kong; and on what date it was last assessed.
The total commercial ivory stock held in Hong Kong on 17 July 1990 was 463 tonnes to the nearest tonne. No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised between then and 25 February 1992 except for two pre-convention specimens of worked ivory of 0·1 kg each.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spot checks were made by the Hong Kong authorities of ivory-holding premises (a) since 19 October 1990 and (b) during 1991; and if any irregularities were discovered.
The Hong Kong authorities have made 354 spot checks on ivory holding premises between 17 October 1990 and 25 February 1992 of which 220 were conducted during 1991. No irregularities were discovered.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of ivory exported from Hong Kong since 25 March 1991.
No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised by the Hong Kong authorities in 1991 except for one pre-convention specimen of 0·1 kg.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of any ivory confiscated by the Hong Kong authorities since (a) 17 October 1990 and (b) 31 January 1991; and if any prosecutions for illegal export have been entered since each of those dates.
Between 17 October 1990 and 25 February 1992, the Hong Kong authorities confiscated 181·36 kg of ivory. Between 31 January 1991 and 25 February 1992 they confiscated 162·30 kg of ivory. During the first period, two prosecutions for illegal export were entered and during the second period, one such prosecution was entered.