Read All About It: Hong Kong Bans Ivory in Landslide Vote

The South China Morning Post newspaper reported on how the world’s largest ivory market (Hong Kong) will phase out sales of elephant tusks by 2021 under a three-step plan supported by lawmakers from across the political spectrum. The bill passed by a vote of 49-4 just one month after Beijing shut down markets on the Chinese mainland.

Quotable quote: “Bert Wander, campaign director for Avaaz, a US-based civic organization, described the vote as ‘a referendum on the future of elephants.’ Since China announced its ban, the price of ivory has collapsed from US$2,100 per kilogram in 2014 to a low of US$383 per kilogram, he said. ‘But there have been fears that unless Hong Kong follows, the trade could re-establish itself in the city,’ Wander added.”

Read the rest of the story by Emily Tsang here: www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2131433/hong-kong-approves-elephant-ivory-ban-landslide.