Hong Kong’s ivory traders should back the total ban, as they have enough time to adapt

The Legislative Council’s environmental affairs panel has just finished discussing the government’s proposal to phase out the local ivory trade. The goal is clear – phase out the trade, and give traders five years to do so.

I met with ivory traders and environmental activists, listening to both sides of the ban argument. The traders are keen to inform the public that not every piece of ivory represents the poaching of elephants, and that their existing stock was acquired legally – it is permissible under law to trade ivory if the sellers are licensed and the ivory was worked before 1989, with valid documents as proof.

Hong Kong plan to ban ivory trade by 2021 receives Executive Council go-ahead

I understand that “most” of the existing stock of ivory in Hong Kong is legal and that a sizeable portion came from elephants that died naturally. However, I fully support the proposed ivory ban. I think it is a reasonable move that is in line with the global trend.

The global consensus is that we have to conserve our endangered species, and, in order to do that, reducing global demand to halt the killing is simple economics.

The traders say they too despise illegal ivory traders but it is not fair for the whole trade to be punished for their wrongdoings. The environmental NGOs are saying traders should have envisioned that products from increasingly endangered species would eventually be banned amid rising global awareness of conservation, a risk factor they should have considered when deciding to stay in this business – which brings us to the next question: should we compensate the traders for their loss once the ban comes into effect?