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Danny Lee

The "father of Lan Kwai Fong" has called on the government to "step up to the plate" and join the world in imposing a complete ban on the ivory trade.
Allan Zeman, the businessman behind the Central nightlife district and a former chairman of Ocean Park, wants licences for the import and re-export of 1989 pre-convention ivory to be halted and the sale of elephant tusks phased out.
Last month, the government said it was "open-minded" regarding a ban on the domestic trade, in what was seen as a major policy shift on the issue.
READ MORE: Hong Kong government ‘open-minded’ about ivory ban in major policy shift
It came as green groups widened criticism of the city's role in supporting the international ivory trade.

"It is tragic that Hong Kong should be even associated with something the world is now becoming very aware of," said Zeman, at a press conference in Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, centre of the city's ivory trade.
He added: "Elephants dying really makes me angry. Man himself wants a better world for our children … and only governments have the ability to ban this."
An Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department spokesman maintained it "welcomes the joint efforts of different sectors to promote public awareness on endangered species protection".
It added: "It would be more effective if the government, non-government organisations and the public could work together in protecting endangered species."
Among the latest voices to back the ban is Ocean Park's executive director of zoological operations and education Suzanne Gendron.
Actress Li Bingbing recently endorsed conservation group WildAid in calling upon Hong Kong to join mainland China and the United States in banning the domestic ivory trade.
In July, Kenya-based wildlife charity Save The Elephants revealed Hong Kong had more elephant ivory items on sale than any other city in the world.
Zeman yesterday helped unveil a new exhibition called Love is Wild, bringing Hong Kong celebrities to the wild and up close with elephants to raise awareness of the poaching threat to the mammals.


‘Father of Lan Kwai Fong’ Allan Zeman to join calls for Hong Kong government to ban ivory trade

The Love is Wild exhibition in Sheung Wan. Photo: David Wong

Advisor Allan Zeman appears at the Our Hong Kong Foundation meeting at the HKCEC in Wan Chai. 02JUL15

Allan Zeman is expected to call on the government to impose a complete ban on the ivory trade. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong government ‘open-minded’ about ivory ban in major policy shift

Li Bingbing visited Kenya in 2013 to highlight the plight of African elephants. Photo: AFP

Li said the legal ivory trade had been used as cover for the illegal trade, leading to the destruction of half of the African elephant population. Photo: AFP

China and the US have pledged to enact a near-complete ban on ivory imports and exports. Photo: AFP

Prince William urges Chinese to stop buying illegally traded wildlife products, hours before Xi’s visit

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, delivers a speech to students on the topic of the illegal wildlife trade, and the urgent need to combat it, inside the Maughan Library at King's College London, in central London. Photo: AFP

Officials place ivory tusks and products on a conveyor belt to a crusher at a confiscated ivory destruction ceremony in Beijing, China. Photo: Reuters

Prince William (left) feeds a carrot to an elephant in the wild elephant valley in Xishuangbanna,   Yunnan. Photo: AFP

Targeting corruption is the key to saving endangered species

A rhino killed by poachers in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Photo: AFP

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Businessman to lead growing number of voices urging city to do more to protect elephants against poaching


The "father of Lan Kwai Fong" has called on the government to "step up to the plate" and join the world in imposing a complete ban on the ivory trade.
