Editorial | Hong Kong ivory ban needs to be strictly enforced
- Cruel smugglers have got away with it long enough and now the city must make sure those who break the new law by selling prohibited products pay the price
The local trade in ivory has tarnished Hong Kong’s international reputation for decades. A ban on the sale of most ivory products took effect at the start of the new year.
It is long-awaited and most welcome. Now, authorities must ensure the prohibition is effectively enforced.
It has taken a long time for the restriction to be put in place. There has been an international ban on commercial ivory trading since 1989.
China outlawed the domestic trade and processing of ivory on the mainland at the end of 2017.
Steps were taken to restrict this shameful business in Hong Kong the following year, but the industry, which resisted the ban, was given a generous grace period in which to liquidate its stock. It was estimated 70 tonnes of legal ivory were held by licence holders in 2016.
The new measures impose a ban on the commercial possession of elephant ivory. An exception is made for antique pieces from before 1925.
