In a historic move, Hong Kong will phase out the sale of ivory in the city, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced on Wednesday. This decision has been hailed by many activists.

Leung announced this historic move during his annual policy address. He said that the government of Hong Kong will take bold steps to totally prohibit the sale of ivory in the country. He added that the government will enforce grave punishments and fines on smugglers and illegal traders of protected and endangered species.

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Alex Hofford of WildAid Hong Kong is delighted with the announcement. He has been campaigning against the illegal trade in the city for a long time.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Quat, who has been calling for a full ban of the illegal trade on ivory, has encouraged the government to implement the commitment without further impediment.

She has also urged Hong Kong citizens to strongly support the policy and help ensure its full implementation until the very end.

Although the city has already banned the import and export of ivory, there are around 400 licensed sellers that are allowed to trade in ivory material that dates before the 1989 international treaty that forbids the business.

But activists claim this is only a facade and the illegal trade in invory continue underground - encouraging the poaching of elephants. Hafford said that Hong Kong has always been the "dark heart of the ivory trade."

An undercover investigation conducted by WildAid last year revealed just how simple it is to break the treaty.

Ever year, thousands of elephants are killed by hunters for their tusks. With the current rate of killing, the wild African elephants could be extinct within a generation, according to activists. Sadly, much of the demand comes from mainland China. Ivory is considered a symbol of wealth in the country.

For years, Chinese authorities have campaigned against illegal wildlife products. In fact, Britain's Prince William made a speech broadcasted on Chinese state television on how to turn this epidemic around.

Now that Hong Kong has banned the selling of ivory, it is hoped that generations to come can still witness the magnificent beauty of the wild African elephant.

TagsHong Kong, Hong Kong Bans Ivory Trade, Ivory trade, illegal ivory trade, phase out of ivory sale