Legislators voted in favour of amending the existing law to outlaw sales of ivory in Hong Kong, which researchers say is the world’s biggest retail ivory market. Under the new law, the maximum sentence will increase to a 10 million Hong Kong dollar (£920,000) fine or 10 years in prison, up from the current top penalty of two years. The proposal also includes significantly stiffer penalties for wildlife smuggling to deter black market sales. Wildlife activists applauded the move, even as Hong Kong moves more slowly on the issue than Beijing. Mainland China banned ivory sales at the start of the year after shutting all carving factories and shops last March.

Source: Irish Independent January 31, 2018 11:03 UTC