Third Hong Kong Retailer Drops Ivory
WILDAID, SAVE THE ELEPHANTS, AWF
Press Release
HONG KONG, May 13, 2014 – Hong Kong’s Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Ltd announced that it is no longer selling ivory products according to a memo obtained by WildAid. The statement follows similar announcements from fellow retailers Chinese Arts & Crafts (H.K.) Ltd (CAC) and Wing On Department Store earlier this year. Prior to these announcements CAC, Wing On, and Yue Hwa were Hong Kong’s largest retailers of elephant ivory.
PHOTO CREDIT: © KATE WONG
According to the memo, Yue Hwa stopped selling elephant ivory products as of May 7 this year. “Our ivory products have already been off the shelf, and Our Company is no longer selling ivory products since yesterday. Our Company realized the trend of protecting endangered species in the society; we respect and agree with the will of the general public to protect these animals.”
“Hong Kong’s three largest ivory retailers are leading by example and demonstrating the importance of stopping the trade in these products,” said WildAid Executive Director Peter Knights. “We applaud Yue Hwa for taking this important step toward protecting elephants by reducing the bloody trade and thereby lessening poaching pressures in Africa.”
Yue Hwa’s decision follows public pleas to end the ivory trade in Hong Kong and comes one week before the government is scheduled to begin burning 29.6 tonnes of confiscated ivory on May 15. Hong Kong’s ivory stockpile was originally 37.8 tonnes of which 6.5 tonnes has already been reportedly incinerated and crushed to test destruction methods and 1.7 tonnes was donated for CITES permitted uses.
“This is solid proof that government held ivory destruction events can effect positive change,” said Hong Kong-based WildAid consultant Alex Hofford. “It’s no coincidence that all three of Hong Kong’s largest ivory retailers decided to remove ivory from their shelves in the final hours leading up to the Hong Kong ivory burn. We encourage the government to continue their great work by banning ivory sales permanently.”
Member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council Elizabeth Quat said, “I am very pleased that Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Ltd can follow our advice. I am expecting more and more local, or even foreign companies to contribute to elephant conservation and stop all trading of ivory products as soon as possible. In addition, I expect that the Government to take a more active role in combating illegal ivory trade, as well as looking into the possibility of drafting new legislation prohibiting sales and trading of all ivory products. We need to allow our next generation to have real contact and interaction with these precious creatures, not just learning them from books or videos.”
The General Manager of Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Ltd, Mr. Yu Kwok-Chun, said, “Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Ltd will always support the promotion of environmental protection and the protection of endangered animals. After receiving the call from the Hon Elizabeth Quat, we showed our support by taking immediately action to stop the sale of ivory products in our shops the very same afternoon.”
In April 2013, former NBA star Yao Ming launched a campaign in China to reduce demand for ivory and rhino horn with WildAid, the African Wildlife Foundation, and Save the Elephants.
China’s government has already taken positive steps by crushing more than six tonnes of seized ivory this past January and in 2013, China’s State Forestry Administration appealed to travelers through SMS alerts not to purchase ivory or rhino horn. On February 27 of this year, China’s top business leaders publicly pledged to never purchase, possess, or give ivory as a gift. WildAid China Chairman, Huang Nubo spearheaded the pledge, which included Cao Guowei, CEO of Sina Corp., China’s largest internet portal, as well as 10 individuals from the Forbes 2013 China Rich List including Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba Group. Then on March 4, Yao Ming and several fellow delegates delivered a petition during the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress asking the government to ban sales of ivory.
Recent surveys indicate a large portion of China’s population is unaware of the death toll to create ivory and rhino horn products, yet a greater number of residents support government enforced bans. (Read the ivory and rhino horn surveys.)
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About WildAid
WildAid is the only organization to solely focus on reducing the demand for wildlife products. Working with hundreds of Asian and Western political figures, celebrities, and business leaders, including the Duke of Cambridge, Yao Ming, Jackie Chan, Edward Norton, and Sir Richard Branson. WildAid’s public service messages and educational initiatives reach hundreds of millions of people a week in China alone through donated media space. For more information: www.wildaid.org.
About Save the Elephants
Save the Elephants (STE) aims to secure a future for elephants in a rapidly changing world. Pioneers in cutting-edge science, their research provides vital insights into elephant behavior, intelligence, and long-distance movement. Given the current crisis, STE has now marshalled its resources to combat elephant poaching, prevent ivory trafficking at all levels, and bring to the attention of ivory consumers the catastrophic impact of their purchases. For more information: www.savetheelephants.org.
About African Wildlife Foundation
Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is a leading conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are based on sound science and designed to protect both the wild lands and wildlife of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people. Since its inception, AWF has protected endangered species and land, promoted conservation enterprises that benefit local African communities, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation—all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wildlife heritage. AWF is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Kenya and registered as a 501(c)(3) in the United States. For more information, visit www.awf.org, follow us on Twitter @AWF_Official or @awf_media, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/AfricanWildlifeFoundation.
Contacts:
Brian Adams, WildAid
E: [email protected]
or
Elizabeth Quat
T: +852 9031 7995, E: [email protected]
or
Kathleen Garrigan, African Wildlife Foundation
T: 202.939.3326, E: [email protected]
or
Frank Pope, Save the Elephants Chief Operations Officer
T: +254725777552, E: [email protected]