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Date: April 28, 2024 Sun
Time: 1:08 pm
hong kong
Time: 1:08 pm
hong kong
Results for hong kong
126 total results foundAuthor: Clarke, Shelley Title: Trading tails: linkages between Russian salmon fisheries and East Asian markets. Summary: Ongoing efforts to study and conserve salmon species are targeting areas with high natural species diversity, un-degraded spawning habitat and limited existing legal and regulatory protection, and thus the salmon of the Kamchatka peninsula are a particular focus. Import data clearly indicate that East Asian markets receive a large portion of the Russian Far East's salmon catch. These markets may also play an active role in creating incentives for the illegal salmon trade. Therefore, exploring the relationship between markets and fisheries for Russian Far East salmon can provide a unique window on current salmon use practices as well as lead to new insights for sustainable management. In order to examine the roles of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in the trade of illegal salmon from the Russian Federation, it is necessary to describe the characteristics of the salmon distribution systems in East Asian markets. This study then compares the total quantity of Russian salmon in these markets to catch estimates from the Russian Federation. After assessing the potential trade in Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing products in this way, recommendations for trade measures to combat IUU activities are formulated. Details: Hong Kong: TRAFFIC East Asia, 2007, 120p. Source: Internet Source Year: 2007 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Illegal Shelf Number: 117395 |
Author: Broadhurst, Roderic G. Title: Homicide Followed by Suicide in Hong Kong 1989-2001: A Report for the Hong Kong Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee Summary: Homicide followed by suicide is a rare but catastrophic event that typically involves the murder of family members and in Hong Kong accounts for a high proportion of all child homicides. This report describes the known characteristics of homicide by suicide events, both victims and offender, and notes that homicides followed in suicide in Hong Kong differed in a variety of ways from those reported in other jurisdictions but as elsewhere were usually a particular form of family or domestic homicide. Details: Hong Kong: Centre for Criminology, The University of Hong Kong, 2005. 114p. Source: Year: 2005 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Family Violence Shelf Number: 116379 |
Author: Broadhurst, Roderic Title: Hong Kong United Nations International Crime Victim Survey: Final Report of the 2006 Hong Kong UNICVS Summary: This report presents the findings of the 2006 Hong Kong United Nations International Crime Victim survey. This was the first time the UNICVS was conducted in Hong Kong SAR China. For this reason, no trends in crime over time are available but where appropriate, the results are compared with those of other main cities in the developed and the developing world. The report shows crime victimisation rates for ten types of common crimes: car theft, theft from car, household burglary and attempted burglary, robbery, personal theft, assault, and sexual victimisation. In addition, the report examines non-conventional crimes such as corruption and bribery, and consumer fraud. A unique feature of the Hong Kong UNICVS is a set of questions on cyber victimisation. The report also presents information on other topics related to criminal justice such as reporting to the police and the police response to victimisation, fear of crime, crime prevention measures, and opinions about police and sentencing. Hong Kong’s residents attitudes to restorative justice and victims’ participation in the justice process are also examined. Details: Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong; Canberra: Australian National University, 2010. 89p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Crime (Hong Kong) Shelf Number: 119341 |
Author: McKinnon, Alexander Title: Maritime Piracy: A Hong Kong Perspective Summary: The threat of piracy is a major concern of Hong Kong maritime industry groups, shipowners, ship operators and the wider sector supporting the shipping industry. The statistics are confronting: in Somalia at present, at least 23 vessels are being held against the will of the owners and at least 518 hostages (mostly seafarers) are at the whim of Somali pirates. Even more troubling is that the first quarter of 2011 has been labelled as the worst on official record. Almost three times the number of attacks occurred as compared to the same quarter in 2010. Piracy is also an ever-present danger in the waters of South East Asia although regional efforts have yielded positive results. The Marine Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which is responsible for port administration and the Hong Kong Shipping Register, is active in promoting security arrangements to Hong Kong registered ships. Notwithstanding this, Hong Kong vessels continue to be at risk and limitations imposed by international conventions frustrate those closely involved in the industry. This paper looks at the approaches taken by Hong Kong in attempting to protect its ships from piracy. The paper also briefly canvasses the international legal framework and highlights some controversial and emerging issues. Details: Hong Kong: Hong Kong Centre for Maritime and Transportation Law, School of Law City University of Hong Kong, 2011. 16p. Source: Working Paper Series. Internet Resource: Accessed on January 23, 2012 at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/HKCMT/Doc/Working_Paper_-_Piracy_-_Final_(v3).pdf Year: 2011 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Maritime Security Shelf Number: 123755 |
Author: Emerton, Robyn Title: Trafficking of Women into Hong Kong for the Purpose of Prostitution: Preliminary Research Findings Summary: The issue of trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution has been a matter of international concern since the turn of the 19th century, when several international conventions on “white slavery” were adopted. Recently there have been renewed efforts to address the issue of trafficking in women at the international and regional level, largely prompted by the work of non-governmental organisations, which have brought to light the huge numbers of women involved and the extent of the human rights abuses they suffer. The trafficking of women for the purposes of prostitution into certain parts of Asia, in particular into Thailand, India and Japan, is now relatively well-documented. However, there is very little information available on the trafficking of women into Hong Kong. This study is an attempt to correct that, although, given the “hidden” nature of the problem and the time and difficulties involved in obtaining primary information, it must be regarded very much as a preliminary study, but one which is intended to provide the foundation for further work in the future. The study first considers some of the definitional problems which continue to plague the discussion of trafficking in women, in particular within the context of international law developments (Part II). It then turns to Hong Kong‟s domestic law and Hong Kong‟s international and regional obligations (Part III). On the basis of information available, the various situations of non-local women who have been recruited to work in the Hong Kong sex industry are described. The report considers whether these women are, or might be, victims of trafficking, both under Hong Kong law, which is based on a traditional concept of trafficking, and under a more modern definition of trafficking (Part IV). This is followed by a review of the approach taken by the Hong Kong authorities to the issue of trafficking (Part V). Finally, the report makes some observations and recommendations in relation to the position in Hong Kong (Part VI). Details: Hong Kong: Centre for Comparative and Public Law, University of Hong Kong, 2001. 69p. Source: Occasional Paper No. 3: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2012 at http://www.law.hku.hk/ccpl/pub/Documents/paper3.pdf Year: 2001 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Female Victims Shelf Number: 125163 |
Author: Broadhurst, Roderic Title: Hong Kong International Violence Against Women Survey: Final Report of the 2006 Hong Kong IVAWS Summary: From 2003 to 2009, the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS) has been conducted in 12 developed and developing countries. The IVAWS is a comprehensive instrument that measures women's experiences of physical and sexual violence by men, including intimate partners, victim' helpseeking behaviour and the response of the criminal justice system. The instrument contains behaviour-specific questions and interviews are conducted solely by female callers, who have been trained in understanding the ways in which violence affects women and how they may react to the survey questions. The IVAWS uses standardised questionnaires and data collection methods, which makes it possible to reliably compare data across time, countries and cultures. Between December 2005 and March 2006, a random sample of 1,297 Hong Kong women was interviewed by telephone about their experiences of violence using the IVAWS instrument. Demographic and socio-economic data were collected as well as details of their current and former intimate relationships. Women were asked whether since the age of 16 years, in the previous five years and in the past year they had been the victims of physical (including threats of violence) or sexual (including unwanted touching) violence by men. Further questions probed who the perpetrator was, particularly whether it was an intimate partner, a relative, a friend or acquaintance, or a stranger. From their responses, adult lifetime, five-year and one-year prevalence estimates are computed. Women who had experienced violence since the age of 16 were asked a series of questions about the most recent incident either by an intimate partner or a non-partner, including whether they had reported their victimisation to the police and/or victim support services. Respondents involved in an intimate relationship were also asked about the socio-demographics and behavioural characteristics of their partner. Using information on the women and their partner, we examine the predictors of violent victimisation. Details: Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong, Social Sciences Research Centre; Canberra: The Australian National University, Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security, 2012. 111p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2012 at: http://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/146076/1/Content.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Domestic Violence Shelf Number: 125414 |
Author: Cheng, Nelson Yiu-mo Title: The Effectiveness of Money Laundering Investigations in Fighting Transnational Crime: A Comparison of the United States and Hong Kong Summary: This research seeks to: (a) Identify emerging trends in transnational crime and the resulting challenges to law enforcement; (b) Examine the effectiveness of money laundering investigation of the law enforcement agencies of the United States and Hong Kong in addressing these trends and challenges; (c) Compare the two regimes so as to identify strengths and weaknesses; and (d) Suggest a way forward in enhancing the effectiveness of money laundering investigation. Details: Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, 2012. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2012/3/money%20laundering%20cheng/03_money_laundering_cheng.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Financial Crimes Shelf Number: 125678 |
Author: Ip, pau-fuk, Peter Title: The Sociolinguistics of Triad Language in Hong Kong Summary: This thesis contains a study of the use of triad language in Hong Kong today. In it I have set out to discuss a number of important aspects of triad language. In Chapter 2, I discussed the literature on the subject, and then I gave a statement of my research issues. My research is concerned with the identifying and describing a distinct group of linguistic items which we can identify as 'triad language': discussing the social factors that influence their usage; relating a knowledge of traditional triad ritual and triad writings necessary to understand and explain the use of triad jargon today; and discussing its spread into the wider community. At the centre of the thesis is a wordlist containing four hundred and fourteen items of various types of triad language. A selection of these items, numbering thirty-nine in all are discussed in Chapter 5 of the thesis. Details: Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong, 1999. 178p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 29, 2013 at: http://hub.hku.hk/handle/10722/33344 Year: 1999 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Gangs Shelf Number: 128848 |
Author: Ling, Li Ngai Title: Youth gangs in Hong Kong: the convergence of conventions and deviations Summary: Youth gangs, which have long been the focus of media reports and academic discussion, are commonly regarded as a social problem in Hong Kong. Gangs are popularly characterized in Hong Kong as being delinquent and criminal in orientation. This popular representation of gang life, however, serves only to heighten public anxiety over gangs and young people. This research, hence, explores the dynamics involved in youth gangs. Through an ethnographic exploration of a gang in Heng On Estate, Ma On Shan, this research provides a picture different from the one portrayed in the dominant discourse by demonstrating that the members spend most of their time engaged in conventional social activities. The gang, to its members, is a solution to boredom and serves as their alternative family. This alternative family helps them to cope with the strains due to the failure to attain the middle-class standards prescribed in school and the malfunction of their families. The youth gang members, out of public expectations, are only involved in delinquency and crime occasionally. They exhibit a drifting, continuous, repetitive pattern in committing old delinquent and criminal infractions. It is the growing sense of injustice and the resulting loosened moral bond that sets the foundation for deviating from "conventional" culture. The actual infractions are activated by the members' will. However, this choice is not made out of total freedom. The willingness to commit delinquency depends on the perceived moral and technical feasibility according to Matza's concept of delinquent drift. This research adds that peer pressure and gender also exert influences on the pattern of the drift to delinquency. This thesis argues that youth gang membership is a form of convergence of both conventional and deviant values. Joining a gang and involvement in delinquent and criminal behaviors represents young people's attempts to follow deviant values. Conventional values, on the contrary, appear in youth gangs in a more subtle way. On the one hand, they guide conventional social activities. On the other hand, quite often, the decision of whether one should turn to delinquency, and the patterns of delinquent infractions are also influenced by conventional ideas. Details: Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong, 2005. 165p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 10, 2014 at: http://hub.hku.hk/handle/10722/40289 Year: 2005 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Juvenile Delinquency Shelf Number: 133264 |
Author: Justice Centre Hong Kong Title: How Many More Years A Slave? Trafficking for Forced Labour in Hong Kong, Summary: Forced labour, modern slavery, debt bondage and human trafficking are all terms that have recently made their way into headlines in Hong Kong. These have often been in the context of multiple accounts of alleged abuse of foreign domestic helpers, such as the much-publicised cases of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih and Kartika Puspitasari in the past year. There are currently 11.7 million people in forced labour conditions in the Asia-Pacific region. As an important regional hub and both a destination and transit territory for human trafficking, Hong Kong is failing to fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Current legislation merely prohibits human trafficking "for the purpose of prostitution", but not for forced labour or other forms of trafficking, which has been criticised in the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report, as well as by UN bodies and several human rights organisations. This briefing - the first of a joint series examining modern day slavery in Hong Kong and offering policy solutions - will provide clarity about the distinguishing features and overlaps between forced labour and human trafficking, with reference to international standards. It will go on to identify the gaps in existing legislation, which is currently failing to provide redress in cases of trafficking for forced labour and to prevent further abuses, is neglecting to prosecute traffickers and is not offering adequate protection to victims of trafficking for forced labour in the HKSAR territory. The briefing calls on the Hong Kong Government to: (1) develop a broader definition of human trafficking which encompasses all forms of human trafficking as set out in the UN Trafficking Protocol (2) create a national plan of action to combat human trafficking (3) adopt a comprehensive anti-human trafficking law and (4) offer more robust labour protections against forced labour. Doing so is crucial to prevent further human rights abuses at a time when Hong Kong is looking at other emerging markets for sources of labour. At this critical juncture, the Hong Kong Government has an opportunity and the resources to redouble its efforts to combat modern forms of slavery and serve as a model in the Asia-Pacific region. Details: Hong Kong: Justice Centre Hong Kong, 2014. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 25, 2014 at: http://www.justicecentre.org.hk/framework/uploads/2014/03/JCHK_Report_final_spreads.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Debt Bondage Shelf Number: 134246 |
Author: Liberty Asia Title: Civil Remedies: Justice for Victims of Trafficking in Hong Kong Summary: - Victims of trafficking do not have a civil right of action against their traffickers for damages for the act of trafficking itself. However, there are a number of other potential civil claims that may be relevant in the circumstances of trafficking, depending on the facts of each individual's case. These include tortious claims such as trespass to the person, sexual harassment claims and employment law claims. - Overarching charters and the Basic Law of Hong Kong seek to protect basic civil rights, but these laws and charters do not of themselves provide an avenue for a civil claim. - Tortious claims are likely to apply to many trafficking situations. Even if the person against whom damages are claimed may not have sufficient resources to be in a position to pay a significant award of damages, the publicity and deterrent effect of bringing test cases in the Hong Kong Courts are likely to have value. - Employment tribunals are unlikely to offer an effective remedy for victims who are not legally employed. - There are other possible avenues of compensation for victims of crime including the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, although there are a number of eligibility criteria to fulfil before access to this scheme can be gained. Details: Liberty Asia; New York: Hogan Lovells, 2014. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2015 at: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53038dd2e4b0f8636b5fa8c3/t/5436213de4b040d26af83286/1412833597832/1153819v4-Liberty+Asia+-+civil+remedies-HKGLIB01-1.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Civil Remedies Shelf Number: 134441 |
Author: Knights, Peter Title: The Illusion of Control: Hong Kong's 'Legal' Ivory Trade Summary: For more than a century, Hong Kong has been a hub for the global ivory trade. Due to the region's high overall trade volumes, easy access to mainland China, and lax regulation and supervision, this role continues, despite the 1989 international commercial ivory trade ban. Hong Kong has been the gateway through which the tusks of hundreds of thousands of poached elephants have been laundered - first en route to Japan, and more recently, to China. Officials claiming to regulate the trade provide a facade of legitimacy while making no physical link between the ivory itself and the paper trail with which they legitimize it. In short, Hong Kong has been the ivory poacher's and smuggler's laundry. At the time of the 1989 ban, Hong Kong held 670 tonnes of ivory, much of it highly dubious in origin and laundered through the discredited quota system under the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Rather than set a deadline for selling off this stock and closely monitoring its disbursement, Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the government agency charged with implementing CITES, has continued to allow unregulated sales for 26 years, making no meaningful checks to ensure the ivory is from the original stock and not from recently poached elephants. Traders admit they routinely replenish stocks with newly poached ivory, as there is no system to connect any individual tusk or ivory product to required documentation. Essentially, the AFCD has provided unlimited license to launder poached ivory. Nearly all of Hong Kong's ivory vendors flout even the most basic regulation: the requirement that vendors clearly display licenses in their stores. In international meetings, AFCD officials have defended - and even promoted - continued domestic trade, insisting that its system is airtight, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. It's clear that the AFCD lacks the resources, capability and desire to monitor the ivory trade, even superficially. Though long-term sales trends indicate that Hong Kong's stockpile should have been exhausted around 2004, 111.3 tonnes remain unsold, a figure that has barely changed in recent years, when demand for ivory has been the highest-ever, fueled by mainland China's economic growth. A recent study indicated that over 90% of the ivory sold in Hong Kong is purchased by tourists from the mainland (47 million visited in 2014), with unscrupulous vendors coaching them on how to successfully evade detection when smuggling it back to China. According to the latest figures, up to 33,000 elephants are poached each year for their ivory. In a recent poll, 75% of the Hong Kong public interviewed supported a ban on ivory sales. China and the United States recently announced a joint commitment to ending all commercial ivory sales - a move that is undermined by Hong Kong's ongoing laundering and illegal exports. Details: San Francisco: WildAid, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/The%20Illusion%20of%20Control-Full%20Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Animal Poaching Shelf Number: 137738 |
Author: Wu, Joyce Title: Humphead (Napoleon) Wrasse Cheilinus undulatus trade into and through Hong Kong Summary: Market surveys in Hong Kong and mainland China have revealed the large scale of illegal and unreported trade in Humphead Wrasse despite the introduction of regulatory measures in 2005. The Humphead Wrasse is a large, naturally rare, slow growing and high value reef fish that is usually traded live and consumed as a delicacy particularly in Hong Kong and mainland China, along with various other reef fish such as groupers and other wrasses. The study, Humphead (Napoleon) Wrasse Cheilinus undulatus trade into and through Hong Kong was published by TRAFFIC and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group (GWSG) and funded by the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and The University of Hong Kong. In 2005, the Humphead Wrasse was listed in Appendix II of CITES, in order to regulate its international trade to sustainable levels through the issuing of export permits by source countries, while Hong Kong also requires import permits for CITES II listed species. According to UNEP-WCMC data, the official global database for trade in CITES-listed species, Indonesia and Malaysia are the main exporters of Humphead Wrasse, although only Indonesia currently issues CITES export permits; Malaysia set its export quotas for live Humphead Wrasse to zero in 2010 and for all Humphead Wrasse to zero in 2015. Traders also told the report's authors that significant numbers of Humphead Wrasse are sourced from the Philippines, as also claimed by a number of e-commerce websites. However, according to the CITES trade data only three live fish have been exported from the Philippines. An official CITES document tabled in 2010 identified Hong Kong and mainland China as the principal destinations for Humphead Wrasse, and although no trade between the two is reported to CITES, it is recorded by Hong Kong's AFCD. Despite this lack of reported trade involving mainland China, surveys by the report's authors of physical seafood markets in Shenzhen in May and June 2015 and e-commerce websites found at least 15 companies claiming to sell live, chilled or frozen Humphead Wrasse, 12 of them located in mainland China. In Hong Kong, monthly surveys of the three biggest fish markets carried out by a team from Hong Kong University during the study recorded a total of 1,197 live Humphead Wrasse between November 2014 and December 2015. There is usually a short turnaround time (around two weeks) between import and sale of live Humphead Wrasse, making it highly unlikely that those observed on sale had been imported in earlier years. Figures obtained from Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong's CITES Management Authority, showed the import of just 150 Humphead Wrasse during the whole of 2014. However, more than that total, 157, were observed by the University team during November and December 2014 alone. Details: Hong Kong: TRAFFIC, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2016 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/26918241/1458157598657/Humphead-Wrasse-Hong-Kong-trade.pdf?token=oqIRqOqDbkxaCMmq11C1FTGP7nU%3D Year: 2016 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Endangered Species Shelf Number: 138345 |
Author: Justice Centre Hong Kong Title: Coming Clean: The prevalence of forced labour and human trafficking for the purpose of forced labour amongst migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong Summary: This report presents the findings from a year-long primary research project carried out from March 2015 - March 2016. It is the first study of its kind to employ quantitative methods to estimate the prevalence of forced labour and human trafficking for the purpose of forced labour amongst migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Hong Kong. The findings of the study provide evidence of the need for policy and law reform to ensure that MDWs are protected from exploitation and to combat forced labour and human trafficking in Hong Kong. Justice Centre regards this research as an important contribution to the discussion of MDW rights in Hong Kong. It is the first research project to examine the extent to which forced labour and trafficking for the purpose of forced labour are present within the general population of MDWs currently employed in Hong Kong. Moreover, in measuring prevalence, Justice Centre has developed a replicable framework for assessing whether the cumulative experiences in recruitment and/or working life in Hong Kong are constitutive of forced labour and/or trafficking for the purpose of forced labour. Details: Hong Kong: Justice Centre Hong Kong, 2016. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 13, 2016 at: http://www.justicecentre.org.hk/framework/uploads/2016/03/Coming-Clean-The-prevalence-of-forced-labour-and-human-trafficking-for-the-purpose-of-forced-labour-amongst-migrant-domestic-workers-in-Hong-Kong.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Domestic Workers Shelf Number: 138655 |
Author: Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants Title: Invisible Chains: A Study on Debt Bondage Among Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong Summary: This research study on the indebtedness of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Hong Kong is a qualitative one, and is impelled by the need to substantiate with ground-based information ongoing migrant advocacy campaigns against overcharging and illegal collection of recruitment fees. It also sought to look into the following problems: overcharging and illegal fee collection occur not only in sending-countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, but even in Hong Kong itself; placement agencies use deceptive and coercive methods to ensure payment of recruitment fees; and that loan companies both in Hong Kong and in their countries of origin subjecting FDWs to debt-bondage to pay off concealed placement fees. In conducting the study, APMM used focus-group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs) and secondary materials to gather evidences on overcharging, and found out that Hong Kong-registered agencies are at the center of overcharging operations, in collusion with sending-country agencies and going to the extent of using coercive methods in ensuring payments of company loans that act as guarantees of settlement. The study makes the conclusion that the governments of sending countries have relegated a large portion of their regulatory role to private recruitment agencies in implementing labor export programs, putting a premium on profit-making to the neglect of migrant human rights. This makes it all the more improbable that decisive measures will be undertaken by these governments to address FDW debt-bondage in Hong Kong, as such measures might "kill the goose that lays the golden eggs". This also ensures that existing policies to regulate placement agencies are inadequate and ineffective, and reflect the lack of any desire from governments to regulate these agencies. Lastly, it forwards recommendations that aim to clip the mandate and influence of placement agencies, as well as point out the need to reorient labor migration in Hong Kong towards the rights-based approach as opposed to the current profit-oriented one. Details: Hong Kong SAR, CHINA: APMM, 2014. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 14, 2016 at: http://www.apmigrants.org/articles/publications/Featured%20Researches/Indebtedness%20Research%202014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Debt Bondage Shelf Number: 138679 |
Author: Lo, Cheryl Title: The Hard Truth: How Hong Kong's Ivory Trade is Fuelling Africa's Elephant Poaching Crisis Summary: In recent years, the global illegal wildlife trade has exploded, expanding to meet vastly increased demand for wild animal products. Underpinned by crime syndicates, wildlife is trafficked in the same way as drugs or weapons: it is now the fourth-largest illicit trade, valued at over US$ 19 billion annually. Of grave concern to WWF is the effect of this trade on elephants - over 30,000 are killed every year in Africa, primarily for their tusks. The majority of the illegal ivory harvested is sent to Asian markets, particularly China and Thailand, with Hong Kong playing a key role in this trade. Hong Kong currently has a legal stockpile of ivory taken from wild elephants, amassed before African elephants were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and enacted in local legislation in 1990. Today, Hong Kong ivory traders claim to conduct their business by using this stockpile from 25 years ago. The current size of this stockpile is 111.3 tonnes and it lies in the possession of over 400 license holders. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Illegal ivory is accessible in Hong Kong. The city ranks fifth globally in terms of the quantity of ivory seized - over 33 tonnes have been confiscated since 2000. A recorded conversation with an ivory trader revealed that a buyer in Hong Kong can make a "purchase order" for ivory directly from Africa, thus fuelling the ongoing poaching crisis. Legal ivory is used as a front for the illegal ivory trade. Traders claim to the government that they are selling very little ivory, yet Hong Kong has an extensive ivory business. One major ivory trader explained that "laundering" is easy, whereby traders use the stockpile of legal ivory as a front while they instead sell smuggled, illegal ivory to unsuspecting buyers. Loopholes exist in the licensing system. These enable the system to be exploited by unscrupulous businesses, perpetuating the illegal ivory trade and driving the rapid decline in elephant populations. A major ivory trader suggested best licensing practices to the government, but this proposal was not adopted. Also, the government does not perform forensic testing to confirm the age of ivory being displayed, stored or sold. The re-export of ivory from Hong Kong without permits is illegal, but rampant. Over 90 per cent of ivory buyers are mainland Chinese tourists, yet it is illegal to take ivory across Hong Kong's borders without a permit. An ivory trader described how buyers can simply smuggle their purchases across the border. This presents a huge challenge to Hong Kong Customs, as the city welcomes 60 million visitors every year. Inadequate deterrents and prosecution. The maximum penalties for smuggling and selling illegal ivory under Hong Kong Law are harsh, but often only low penalties are given. Between 2011 and 2013, most prosecutions resulted in relatively small fines, with only about 10 cases resulting in short prison sentences. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has limited resources to inspect ivory traders. There are only eight inspectors who are tasked with checking all the shops selling items derived from rare and threatened species in Hong Kong. The regulatory system lacks transparency. Most key information relating to the ivory trade is not publicly available. In view of the lack of effectiveness in regulating ivory trafficking and trade and the toll it is taking on elephant populations, it's time to re-write the future of elephants by banning ivory sales in Hong Kong. WWF calls for the Hong Kong government to rapidly phase out the commercial processing and sale of ivory, based on a firm plan and a short timeline. Hong Kong has earned an international reputation as a law-abiding society, and must ensure that this reputation is maintained. The threats posed by global crime syndicates and the legal loopholes in local regulations are a serious challenge to our rule of law, therefore WWF calls the Hong Kong government to take all available measures to disrupt and prosecute those who prey on and profit from the illegal trade. Only firm, robust and immediate action can halt the trade in ivory and save the elephants. WWF's detailed study of the ivory trade in Hong Kong assesses the effectiveness of the existing regulatory system through an analysis of government data and information from other specialist organizations in the field, supplemented by information collected by field investigators who posed as authentic ivory buyers to conduct interviews with ivory traders. The research has included conversations with three traders, who claimed to have access to at least 15 to 20 tonnes of ivory between them. This is a large sum compared with the 111.3 tonnes of legal ivory stockpile held by all businesses in Hong Kong. All three traders pointed to a number of irregularities in the Hong Kong ivory trade. The study has uncovered several fundamental flaws in the current regulatory system and evidence of widespread illegality relating to the ivory trade. The evidence in this report demonstrates the systemic flaws in Hong Kong's illegal and under-regulated trade, which is directly fuelling present-day poaching activities in Africa. The study identifies seven major weaknesses in the current system of regulation. In recent years, the global illegal wildlife trade has exploded, expanding to meet vastly increased demand for wild animal products. Underpinned by crime syndicates, wildlife is trafficked in the same way as drugs or weapons: it is now the fourth-largest illicit trade, valued at over US$ 19 billion annually. Of grave concern to WWF is the effect of this trade on elephants - over 30,000 are killed every year in Africa, primarily for their tusks. The majority of the illegal ivory harvested is sent to Asian markets, particularly China and Thailand, with Hong Kong playing a key role in this trade. Hong Kong currently has a legal stockpile of ivory taken from wild elephants, amassed before African elephants were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) and enacted in local legislation in 1990. Today, Hong Kong ivory traders claim to conduct their business by using this stockpile from 25 years ago. The current size of this stockpile is 111.3 tonnes and it lies in the possession of over 400 license holders. Details: Hong Kong) World Wildlife Fund - Hong Kong, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2016 at: http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/816/files/original/wwf_ivorytrade_eng_eversion.pdf?1442844784 Year: 2015 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Animal Poaching Shelf Number: 138891 |
Author: ADM Capital Foundation Title: Wildlilfe crime: Is Hong Kong Doing Enough? Summary: The global demand for wildlife products is highest in Asia, where growing affluence has fueled an unprecedented rise in the trafficking of threatened species. The harvesting, transportation and delivery of threatened fauna and flora into legal through laundering and clandestine markets is now recognized to involve considerable levels of criminality. Transnational organized crime networks are increasingly engaged in such activities, not only because of the high profits which can be made, but also because they have the set up the trade routes and personnel required to conduct and control such operations. 'Black market' prices for several forms of wildlife exceed, sometimes vastly, the monies paid for cocaine, diamonds, gold or heroin. These same organized crime groups have brought to what, historically, might have been viewed as illicit trade, degrees of violence, intimidation, corruption and fraud that are more commonly associated with the trafficking of narcotics, firearms and human trafficking. Trafficking in wildlife involves money-laundering, counterfeiting of permits and licenses, avoidance of currency controls, taxes and import/exit duties or the acquisition of necessary documents through extortion, coercion and bribery. The monetary value of all transnational organized environmental crime is estimated at between USD70-213 billion annually. Several components of this trade represent signficant sums: the illegal trade in flora and fauna is valued at USD7-23 billion, illegal fisheries at USD11-30 billion and illegal logging and forest timber crime at USD30-100 billion. Hotspots where wildlife trafficking is rife include the Chinese borders, particularly China's border with Hong Kong, which is also the busiest cargo airport, third-largest passenger airport and the fourth-largest deep-water port in the world. It further aims to be a hub and super-connector as part of mainland China's ambitious "One Belt One Road" initiative looking forward. Utilizing Hong Kong's free port status, the multi-billion dollar wildlife trade industry uses air and sea entry points to access the mainland. Annually, more CITES seizures are made at the international border between Hong Kong and China than at any other border in China. Details: Hong Kong: ADM Capital Foundation, 2015. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 8, 2016 at: http://www.admcf.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Wildlife-CrimeReport15_12_1910.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Endangered Species Shelf Number: 139311 |
Author: Martin, Scott Title: Feasibility Study on the Ban of Hong Kong's Ivory Trade Summary: Just days after the Hong Kong government published its draft five-year timetable to end the domestic ivory trade, WWF today published a legal research report confirming that an ivory ban could be put in place within two years under current Hong Kong law. Commissioned by WWF and conducted by Hong Kong barrister Tim Parker and international consultancy Global Rights Compliance LLP, the Feasibility Study on the Ban of Hong Kong's Ivory Trade concludes that the government could within 6 months halt the practice of issuing new licenses to sell ivory and follow this with legislation to end the trade completely by 2018 - earlier than the government's proposal to outlaw the trade by 2021 "WWF welcomes the government's draft timetable but we believe that an ivory ban in Hong Kong could be legally enacted sooner," said Gavin Edwards, Conservation Director at WWF Hong Kong. "WWF understands that the government's 'five year plan' has been adjusted out of concern for ivory traders and legislatures and that a rushed legislative plan could risk backfiring, while our legal analysis shows that it can be completed within two years." Apart from the speed of the legislative process, WWF's legal analysis is largely consistent with the government's draft proposal and agrees with the key principle that the authorities do not need to compensate ivory traders for their remaining stocks - finding that the proposed ban does not infringe the "right to compensation for lawful deprivation of "property" as protected by Article 105 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR. Traders who chose to speculate over the past 26 years ago - since the international ivory trade started to come under regulation in 1976 and was banned in 1990 - by buying up elephant ivory on the grounds that it was a good investment have no legal grounds to claim compensation. Worse, it may even create a perverse incentive to smuggle ivory into Hong Kong to try and 'cash in' on any compensation scheme, thus creating further challenges for Hong Kong customs authorities. Back in 1990 when the ban on international ivory trade came into force, the Hong Kong government successfully re-trained hundreds of ivory carvers and workers. One of Hong Kong's ex-ivory crafters "Uncle Lee", explains that "there are barely any ivory crafters left in Hong Kong". Mr Lee was a full-time ivory carver in the 1970s who exited the profession in the 1990s. The authorities should explore suitable assistance measures for the few remaining ivory carvers who might be affected by the proposed ban. Details: Surrey, UK: Global Rights Compliance LLP, 2016. 123p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2016 at: http://awsassets.wwfhk.panda.org/downloads/full_grc_report___hk_ivory_1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Elephants Shelf Number: 140517 |
Author: Forrester, Ricardo Reinaldo Title: Girl handlers: a contemporary look at 21st century Colombian pimping in Hong Kong Summary: The aim of this thesis is to explain the identity narratives of three different Colombian 'girl handlers' in Hong Kong and how these form a nexus to a wider context of human trafficking and organised crime. This investigation takes form in the analysis of their impression management utilising the concepts of front-stage, back-stage, facework, techniques of neutralisation they utilise to justify their behaviour, and their links to organised crime syndicates operating both within and outside of Hong Kong. I also look at the way in which they go about doing their business of 'girl handling' in practice. The research was conducted to gain a better understanding of this particular criminal subculture. The context of the aforementioned forms of analysis; and attempts to offer original insight into this criminal group. It is a relatively small operation functioning within the greater scheme of the sex trade and as such, most of the people involved in this trade were interviewed. This investigation was conducted through in-depth interviews of the Colombian 'girl handlers' and in-depth interviews with a priest who is familiar with this scene. In addition I have analysed both Colombian court documents which verify certain claims made by the research participants and documents released by the United Nations in relations to a particular case which will be mentioned in the third chapter of this thesis. The empirical findings of this research demonstrate that Colombian girl handlers have to manage different façades to operate in this trade and keep it secret from people they do not trust; this works both ways as they would lose credibility in both their legal and illegal jobs. Another finding is that they utilise various techniques of neutralisation to justify their behaviour and actions in the trade. The last finding illustrates that all three girl handlers have some ties to an organised crime syndicate (if they are not fully affiliated) as they would not be allowed to operate within this field without such connections. Those who do, conform to the 'outer layers' or 'fringes' of the Colombian cartels. The interviewees therefore could be defined as small cogs working in the "outer layers" of an international machine of crime syndicates far away from Hong Kong. This study therefore allows for the understanding of Colombian 'girl handlers' in different forms which make each unique in the way that he conducts his business. (392) Details: Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR: University of Hong Kong, 2012. 285p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: http://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/192645/1/FullText.pdf?accept=1 Year: 2012 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Colombian Cartels Shelf Number: 140317 |
Author: Lau, Wilson Title: An assessment of South African dried abalone Haliotis midae consumption and trade in Hong Kong Summary: The report, "An assessment of South African dried abalone Haliotis midae consumption and trade in Hong Kong," produced by TRAFFIC as part of the USAID-funded Wildlife TRAPS Project, shows that South African abalone imports to Hong Kong have increased in recent years, despite severe restrictions on wild harvest. It estimates that of South African abalone imports to Hong Kong in 2015, 65% was illegally sourced and trafficked compared to the 35% that was legally wild-caught or produced through aquaculture operations. In the past decade, efforts to protect the legal abalone fishery have been undermined by international underground criminal networks. After South Africa took a number of regulatory measures in 2007 and 2008 to protect crashing abalone populations, the new report reveals that illicit trade routes shifted. Instead of mainly exporting poached abalone directly to Hong Kong, traffickers increasingly smuggled abalone to nearby African countries, such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe, before re-exporting the product. Between 2008-2015, 61% of South African abalone exports to Hong Kong came from African countries outside South Africa, a significant increase from the 36% that was exported from outside South Africa between 2000-2007. Aside from one small farm in Namibia, no other African country legally exports the marine mollusk. This highly profitable trade is managed by organised criminal syndicates that reach sellers and buyers in Hong Kong who may or may not realise their involvement is bankrolling illegal activities. Once poached abalone arrives in Hong Kong, under the current legislation, it can be openly traded and sold in markets alongside legally sourced abalone. The report shows that the majority of abalone traders, about 80%, are aware of some form of illegal activity surrounding South African abalone, but less than half of consumers had any knowledge of abalone poaching in South Africa. Current levels of abalone poaching have serious implications for the sustainability of the South African fishery, which in turn, could have rippling impacts on the market. One-third of all abalone imported by Hong Kong is of South African origin, and the report's findings indicate that the availability of this abalone, along with its quality and reasonable price (compared to other more expensive abalone varieties), helps boost South African abalone's popularity among consumers. Any reduction in South African abalone's availability could affect Hong Kong buyers' strong preference for the product-creating a strong incentive for legal producers to support measures that ensure the sustainability of supplies. To reduce the threat of poaching and trafficking, the report offers nine recommendations for governments, legal producers, conservation groups and the donor community to take action. They include listing and enforcing regulations for dried Haliotis midae trade under CITES, working with industry to support the trade in legally sourced South African abalone, and implementing methods for strengthening law enforcement, improving traceability, and raising public awareness about the species and illegal trade. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2018. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 13, 2018 at: http://www.traffic.org/home/2018/2/8/poached-abalone-from-south-africa-is-flowing-into-hong-kong.html Year: 2018 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Abalone Shelf Number: 149119 |
Author: Justice Centre Hong Kong Title: Refugee-Human Trafficking Nexus Research Summary: Justice Centre Hong Kong conducted primary research with a view to exploring the refugee-trafficking nexus in Hong Kong. Specifically, the research has examined if and how those seeking protection through Hong Kong's Unified Screening Mechanism might also be victims of trafficking. Recommendations have been made for the Hong Kong Government and civil society based on the findings of the research. Details: Hong Kong: The Justice Centre, 2017. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 12, 2018 at: http://www.justicecentre.org.hk/framework/uploads/2018/02/Refugee-Human-Trafficking-Nexus-Full-report-R3.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Human Trafficking Shelf Number: 149425 |
Author: Lau, W. Title: Closing Strategy: Ending Ivory Trade in Hong Kong Summary: Elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade have increased considerably in the past decade. This has occurred despite international control measures through the listing of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and African Elephant Loxodonta africana in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricted the international commercial trade of ivory from 1990. It has resulted in calls for urgent deterrent actions that go beyond CITES requirements, including domestic measures to address the illegal trade. CITES is given effect in Hong Kong through the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) which controls the import, (re-)export and local trade of ivory. Hong Kong was once a prominent trading centre for ivory in the 1970s and 1980s, but the industry contracted considerably following the implementation of CITES trade restrictions in 1990, and waning demand from traditional overseas consumers. However, resurgence in international ivory trade activity in the past decade, both legal and illegal, have also reinvigorated Hong Kong's local ivory market. This has led many conservation advocates to campaign for a ban on ivory trade in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government's proposal to phase out local ivory trade, which was first announced in January 2016 and developed in June 2016, as well as additional enforcement and licensing measures, would be a significant commitment if passed through Hong Kong's Legislative Council, in line with ambitions in China, the USA and elsewhere to take drastic actions against illegal ivory. This report presents an assessment of commercial ivory trade in Hong Kong. Market surveys of ivory outlets were conducted during two periods-August and December 2015-with a rapid survey in November 2016 revisiting most of the same shops. These surveys occurred during a period when denouncements of the local ivory trade were at their most vocal, with new government measures and the possible cessation of local ivory trade bringing about significant uncertainties for local ivory traders. In this respect, this report captures the market conditions and sentiments at a critical moment in Hong Kong's ivory trading history. In addition, CITES trade data on import and re-export of preConvention ivory from Hong Kong between 2000 and 2015, as well as government seizure reports, were analysed to examine the extent to which Hong Kong plays the role of a trading hub for the international ivory trade, and discrepancies with local sentiments about the state of Hong Kong's ivory industry. Physical market surveys in the two main survey periods in 2015 found that while ivory is still readily available in Hong Kong, the vast majority of ivory retail outlets have to supplement their operations by selling a range of other goods, whether it is mammoth ivory, stone and timber carvings, other precious jewellery or antiques. Dealers generally spoke of a sluggish ivory market at the time of the surveys. When these ivory outlets were revisited in 2016, seven outlets appeared to have closed down for business, and two dealers spoke of plans to downsize by closing branch stores and to focus on the wholesale side of their ivory business. Overall, a consolidation of the market appears to be occurring. Larger specialist outlets were still making sales, but smaller outlets with a few ivory items displayed had fewer active transactions. Local ivory trade is controlled through a licensing system whereby premises have to be licensed before they can commercially trade in pre-ban ivory (pre-1990), and the licence must be displayed on their premises. Market surveys found that only 38% of outlets had licences displayed or had claimed to possess one. When questioned about whether ivory items can be taken out of Hong Kong, 36% of local ivory dealers were willing to sell ivory to buyers intending to depart from Hong Kong, encouraging the smuggling of small ivory items as personal effects without going through the due process of acquiring a CITES permit. 42% of traders accurately mentioned the need to have adequate CITES documentation with their purchase. Outlets that had licences displayed were only slightly less likely to suggest that smaller pieces of ivory might go unnoticed by enforcement authorities if taken across Hong Kong's borders. These findings present the shortcomings in the existing regulatory system, both in terms of compliance with existing regulations, as well as current perceptions of any law enforcement deterrent. According to CITES trade data, a considerable quantity of pre-Convention ivory has been imported into Hong Kong between 2010 and 2014, totalling 6,056 ivory pieces plus 4,554 kg. The majority of these imports were sourced from European countries. More than half of the ivory imported was raw ivory. Meanwhile, declared re-exports of pre-Convention ivory amounted to 323 ivory pieces plus 3,264 kg during the same period. Data from the CITES trade database show that raw ivory re-exports during this time were all destined for mainland China, indicating that the market in China is probably a driver for Hong Kong's raw ivory imports. It is puzzling, however, that part of the inflows of raw ivory into Hong Kong remained in the city, according to CITES data, even though there are no more ivory carving factories in Hong Kong and most carvers only operate on a part-time basis undertaking repair and bespoke work. The current proposal to phase out the local ivory trade, which as of the report's publication has still to be passed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council, will be a monumental step towards ending Hong Kong's once prominent role in the global ivory trade. However, a potential scenario that may develop even before a local trade ban is in place is that it could cause a surge in ivory trade out of Hong Kong. It is pertinent that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant that it does not lead to an increase of illegal trade activities. Several major ivory markets around the world have already imposed restrictions on the import of pre-Convention ivory, which would make Hong Kong's re-exports of ivory to those countries illegal, especially that of mainland China, which has had a blanket import ivory ban in place since 2016. Online ivory trade could be one method by which ivory dealers attempt to liquidate their stock, and much greater effort is required of Hong Kong's enforcement agencies to work with social media and e-commerce platforms to prevent illegal ivory transactions from taking place. Current plans to maintain an antique ivory trade, which would restrict trade to only a small pool of ivory items in Hong Kong, should also be monitored closely in future to prevent the laundering of non-antique ivory, or inadvertently encourage consumer demand for that ivory. The report recommends that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) take the following actions immediately to improve management of local ivory trade in Hong Kong while the trade is being phased out: - Assess the status, use and possible re-export of pre-Convention raw ivory that has been legally imported into Hong Kong in recent years, through follow up with licensed traders that had imported the items; - Ensure that aggregate figures and trends in Hong Kong's ivory stockpiles are published in the public domain not more than two months after year end, with a high degree of data resolution that includes quantities of raw/worked ivory, quantities by weight class, and types of ivory products; - Develop information circulars on recent legislative changes and domestic measures in key trading markets such as China, Europe and the USA, to make certain that licensed ivory dealers in Hong Kong are aware of the rapidly evolving changes to international and domestic trade measures, particularly new restrictions that are either now in place or being planned; - Require ivory traders to display an AFCD notice and poster in all licensed premises, and increase enforcement of this requirement so that potential customers have the means to identify lawful practices prior to the implementation of the proposed phase out plan; - Clarify with licensed ivory dealers the conditions for selling through online platforms. In addition, the Hong Kong SAR Government is encouraged to implement the following measures to tackle illegal ivory trade: - Following the example of China's implementation of its ivory ban, Hong Kong should hasten the local ivory trade phase out process, starting with the cessation of ivory possession licences being issued or renewed, in order to lessen the opportunity for laundering of illegal ivory from other markets into Hong Kong if a long grace period was provided; - Require regular monthly reporting of transactions by licensed ivory dealers to AFCD, which would enable ivory stock movements to be closely tracked; - Expand the current hologram system forlabelling registered ivory to allregistered stockpiles, for all commercial pre-ban ivory over 100 g, to minimise confusion about product legality for consumers; - Regulate the trade in antique ivory with a product marking and record keeping system so that future antique ivory trade can be managed and overseen by government authorities; - Review Hong Kong's stockpile management system for confiscated ivory, ensuring that there is a system in place for electronic record-keeping, safe storage and periodic audit of stockpiles. - Enhance co-operation of law enforcement agencies on wildlife crimes, including working with overseas counterparts and taking advantage of innovative communication and information sharing models that exist in other regions of the world, as well as local co-operation between AFCD, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department through joint operations and skills training; - Review maximum penalties for wildlife crimes to levels that reflect the seriousness of organized criminal involvement; - In line with the CITES Resolution on Demand Reduction (Resolution Conf. 17.4), develop supportive policies to encourage evidence-based strategies and campaigns targeting specific consumer groups to change behaviours about the consumption of ivory. Details: Hong Kong: Traffic, 2017. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 20, 2018 at: http://www.trafficj.org/publication/17_Closing_Strategy_HK.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Animal Poaching Shelf Number: 149541 |
Author: ADM Capital Foundation Title: Trading in Extinction: the Dark Side of Hong Kong's Wildlife Trade Summary: The report 'Trading in Extinction - the Dark Side of Hong Kong's Wildlife Trade', consolidates a large body of pre-existing work and reconciles this with a snapshot of Hong Kong's seizure data. It aims to update and, for the first time, illustrate the extent and nature of the wildlife trade and wildlife crime in Hong Kong. It demonstrates that not only is the trade in legal and illegal wildlife at a significant and unsustainable scale, it is likely to get worse. Further, while Hong Kong plays a primary role in connecting trafficked products with their illegal markets, the Administration should and could do more to disrupt the associated criminal activity. Details: Hong Kong: ADMCF, 2019. 240p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2019 at: https://www.admcf.org/wildlife-trade-in-hong-kong/ Year: 2019 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Illegal Wildlife Trade Shelf Number: 154459 |
Author: Greenpeace Title: How the illegal totoaba trade in Hong Kong is pushing Mexico's vaquita to the brink of extinction Summary: The vaquita, a small porpoise found only in the upper Gulf of California in Mexico, is one of the world's most endangered mammals. In the past three years, half of the vaquita population has been killed by fishing nets, many of them set illegally to capture an endangered fish called totoaba. The most recent scientific report published in Aug 2014 by the international Vaquita Recovery Team (CIRVA) estimated that there are only 97 vaquitas alive in the wild. They are expected to go extinct by 2018 unless drastic steps are taken immediately. Many vaquitas have died in nets set for totoaba, the giant endangered fish that can reach two metres in length and 100kg in weight. They are caught for their valuable swim bladders, which are largely believed to be smuggled out of Mexico, often through the United States, destined to Hong Kong and then China. While the Mexican government has placed a two-year ban on destructive gillnet fishing in the vaquita's habitat, more needs to be done to save the vaquita, particularly in relation to the illegal fishing and smuggling of totoaba swim bladders. Therefore, Greenpeace East Asia (hereafter 'Greenpeace') conducted two investigations in Hong Kong earlier this year in February and April to find out if totoaba swim bladders (CITES Appendix 1 species) were being sold and traded in Hong Kong, what would be the possible trade pattern and scale, and who would be the buyers and sellers if these smuggling activities were happening in Hong Kong. By getting a better understanding of the totoaba swim bladder's illegal trade, we would be able to push the concerned government parties (in Hong Kong, China, Mexico and US) to take concrete actions to address the issue. Details: Hong Kong: Greepeace East Asia, 2015. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 26, 2019 at: https://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/Global/eastasia/publications/campaigns/Oceans/HK%20Totoaba%20Trade_Greenpeace%20Media%20Briefing.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Hong Kong Keywords: Criminal Networks Shelf Number: 155572 |