customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Karen Zhang

Hong Kong customs is facing mounting pressure to step up prosecutions in the illegal wildlife trade, with a recent report finding the city has become a hub for such activities as cases occur almost daily on average.
The rising trend has been underestimated but it has contributed to extinction crises of species worldwide, according to ADM Capital Foundation, which co-published the study.
CEO Lisa Genasci said: “Our research indicates Hong Kong has become a hub for organised wildlife smugglers, with consequences for the international reputation of our city as well as international biodiversity.”
Are Hong Kong courts taking illegal wildlife trade seriously, despite tougher laws?
The foundation based its findings on data over five years. Between 2013 and 2017, it found that a total of HK$560 million (US$71.4 million) worth of wildlife products – including live and dead animals – with a weight of 1,456 metric tonnes, was seized.


These included illegal ivory, pangolin scales and rhino horns, potentially equal to the deaths of 3,000 elephants, 65,000 pangolins and 51 rhinoceros.

The study also noted Hong Kong recorded 2,011 seizures of species regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) during this period. This implied a threatened species being seized every 21 hours.
Scales of endangered pangolin on sale as loophole in law allows shops to cash in
The report, compiled by various groups and legal academics, recommended that the government establish a wildlife crime unit or bureau under the Customs and Excise Department, as well as develop a wildlife trade database and expand forensic capacity.

Justin Gosling, a consultant in law enforcement and criminal justice, and who was not involved in the study, said he agreed the city should ramp up its investigative capacity.
“The figures we see in the report are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s actually going through the region and which is not being detected,” Gosling said.
The figures we see in the report are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s actually going through the region
Justin Gosling, enforcement consultant
He expressed surprise at the large volumes of seized scales from the endangered pangolin revealed by the report, adding he believed organised smuggling activities were to blame.
“It is essential authorities identify the trafficking networks to call [for action], and close down the activities,” he said. “Otherwise the illegal imports will just keep coming and coming.”
“Seizures alone do not stop wildlife crime,” he added. “They do not prevent future offences.” 
Among the 379 seizures from 2013 to 2017 reviewed in the report, most came from shipping containers arriving from at least 45 countries, with about 70 per cent from East Africa. However, only 1 per cent of the cases led to prosecutions.
On the other hand, air passengers accounted for 78 per cent of prosecutions.
Gosling said the numbers indicated a “fundamental lack of investigation”.

Conservationists in Hong Kong have called for wildlife offences to be included under the same laws against organised crime, for greater deterrence and investigative firepower.
Most wildlife smuggling cases are now prosecuted under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap 586). Maximum penalties were recently raised significantly to a HK$10 million fine and 10 years’ imprisonment, up from a HK$5 million fine and two years in jail.
Report co-author Amanda Whitfort, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong’s law faculty, said the wildlife trade in Hong Kong remained under-policed and underinvestigated.
Surge in number of endangered wildlife products seized by Hong Kong customs
“Failure to include wildlife smuggling as a crime under the Organised and Serious Crime Ordinance, Cap 455, hampers authorities’ powers to effectively prosecute those behind the networks and syndicates that take advantage of Hong Kong’s position as a major trading port,” she said.
The study’s findings were presented on Monday afternoon by the Hong Kong Wildlife Trading Working Group, a loose coalition comprising NGOs, academics, legal professionals and experts including ADM Capital Foundation, Animals Asia, HKU and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden.


Panda conservation seen in US-China efforts helping other species thrive, scientists say

Hong Kong must sustainably balance ecological conservation and development

Noisy, smelly yellow-eyed penguin wins New Zealand’s bird of the year

Why the delay in adding trees to Hong Kong’s ‘old and valuable’ register?

Conservation

Customs urged to step up prosecutions in illegal wildlife trade – with blood of 3,000 elephants, 65,000 pangolins and 51 rhinoceros on Hong Kong’s hands

Endangered animal parts seized by Hong Kong customs in Kwai Chung. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Portrait of Lisa Genasci, CEO of ADM Capital Foundation, at her office in Central. For the annual Women of our Time publication - a celebration of 25 of Hong Kong's most inspiring & influential women. 06SEP12

epa06997841 Seized bags of dried pangolin scales are displayed during a press presentation at Kwai Chung Customhouse in Hong Kong, China, 05 September 2018. Hong Kong Customs and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) mounted a 10-week joint anti-endangered species smuggling operation at the airport, seaport, land boundary and railway control points from June to August this year. Customs seized a total of 63 tonnes of suspected endangered tree logs, seven tonnes of pangolin scales and 25 kilograms of worked ivory, among other items. EPA-EFE/JEROME FAVRE

Seized Ivory scales seen at a Customs presser with AFCD (Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department) on endangered spices smuggling, to conclude a 2-month operations to combat smuggling activities related to endangered spices, at the Customs Headquarters in Kwai Chung. 05SEP18 SCMP/ K. Y. Cheng

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Study reveals alarming surge in smuggling activity through city, but prosecution rate remains low
Experts call for cases to be handled under law against organised crime for greater deterrence and investigative firepower


Study reveals alarming surge in smuggling activity, but prosecution rate remains low. Experts call for cases to be handled under law against organised crime for greater deterrence and investigative firepower.


Ivory trade in Hong Kong and China

Customs urged to step up prosecutions in illegal wildlife trade – with blood of 3,000 elephants, 65,000 pangolins and 51 rhinoceros on Hong Kong’s hands

Study reveals alarming surge in smuggling activity through city, but prosecution rate remains low Experts call for cases to be handled under law against organised crime for greater deterrence and investigative firepower

Study reveals alarming surge in smuggling activity through city, but prosecution rate remains low

Experts call for cases to be handled under law against organised crime for greater deterrence and investigative firepower