Our open letter to Hong Kong Museum of Art... Attn: Ms Eve Tam, Museum Director, Hong Kong Museum of Art. Mr Raymond Tang Man-leung, Curator (Chinese Antiquities), Hong Kong Museum of Art. cc: Mr Alan Wong, Director, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD). 06 July 2014 Re: Endangered Species Protection / Ming and Qing Chinese Arts from the C. P. Lin Collection Dear Ms Tam & Mr Tang, The Hong Kong Museum of Art is currently hosting an exhibition featuring ivory and rhino horn. In light of the Hong Kong governments confiscated ivory stockpile destruction, as well as other positive developments on the ivory issue in Hong Kong, we believe that this is the wrong message for the government to be sending out at this critical moment for the survival of African wildlife. We believe the Hong Kong Government Environment Bureaus AFCD (Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department) is not communicating effectively with the Home Affairs Bureaus LCSD (Leisure & Cultural Services Department) on the need for more public education and awareness raising on the issue of endangered species protection. The LCSD operates the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and appears to not be aware of the wider conservation issues that threaten global biodiversity. Therefore, in order to help and support the Hong Kong government AFCD in their efforts to protect endangered species, we are calling on the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the LCSD to remove all rhino horn and ivory from government venues with immediate effect. Our coalition of grass-roots NGOs working on the ivory issue in Hong Kong believe that the exhibition of rhino horns and ivory directly counteracts our conservation efforts to date. It is difficult enough to raise awareness on the poaching crisis in Africa without this exhibition putting out false notions of beauty and art. Behind every piece of carved ivory or rhino horn there is a dead elephant or a dead rhino. We believe it is extremely hazardous to the last remaining populations of rhinos in Africa that tourists from all over the world, including many from mainland China, will pass through the exhibition and leave with the subliminal message that the possession of ivory and rhino horn is something to aspire to. This is sure to drive up the price of market rhino horn (and ivory), thereby increasing rhino poaching rates in Africa and Asia. Statistics released on Monday by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs showed that at least 496 rhinos have been butchered for their horns in the first six months of this year, suggesting that the year-end death toll will rise above the record level of more than 1,000 rhinos killed last year. A link is emerging with museum displays which help fuel demand by legitimizing such objects made from rhino horn in the eyes of potential buyers. Criminal networks are supplying this demand and view such exhibitions as ideal marketing material. There was case recently in the United States where trade in rhino horns was being fueled by the demand for libation cups. This report on the United States Department of Justice website gives the background to the international racket, including a Hong Kong link: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Rhino and Ivory Smuggling Conspiracy justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/June/14-enrd-666.html Finally, it should be noted that a CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Secretariat progress report dated 13 June 2014 on Hong Kongs National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) criticized the Hong Kong governments efforts on public education and awareness raising on the protection of endangered species as not having specified any actions. (cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/65/E-SC65-42-02_1.pdf) Yours sincerely, Alex Hofford Rosana Ng Director, WildLifeRisk Coordinator, Hong Kong Humane Education Coalition Tel: +852 9635 7214 Tel: +852 9466 4466 E-mail: alexhofford@gmail E-mail: ng.rosana@gmail We are proud to be supported locally by; Hong Kong for Elephants, AquaMeridien and Hong Kong Humane Education Coalition. We are proud to be supported internationally by; WildAid, Humane Society International (HSI), International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Born Free, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and ProWildlife.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 00:21:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015