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REGISTRY No. 52
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- 6 FEB 1974
FM PEKING 050835Z
CONFIDENTIAL
INCKY
대기
1974
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 79 OF 5 FEBRUARY/REPEATED FOR INFORMATION PRIORITY TO HONG KONG.
FCO TELNO 124 OF 1 FEBRUARY: IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE FROM CHINA.
1.
THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE RECENTLY GIVEN SOME PUBLICITY TO THE NEED TO PROTECT AND MAKE RATIONAL USE OF THEIR RARE WILD ANIMAL RESOURCES. THIS WAS SHOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A RECENT PROVINCIAL BROADCAST FROM SZECHUAN REPORTING EFFORTS IN THAT PROVINCE TO IMPROVE PROTECTION OF THE PANDA, THE GOLD FUR MONKEY
AND THE SPOTTED DEER.
2.
THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO APPROACH THE CHINESE (YOUR PARA 5) WITHOUT CAUSING TOO MUCH OFFENCE.
BUT AS HONG KONG HAVE POINTED OUT WE SHALL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT
TO APPEAR TO LECTURE THE CHINESE, WE WOULD PROBABLY DO BEST
(A) TO EXPLAIN FRANKLY THAT HMG IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE THREAT TO0 CERTAIN SPECIES
3.
(B) TO SAY THAT WE REALISE THE CHINESE ALSO TAKE THIS QUESTION
SERIOUSLY. WE WOULD ASK FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THEY DO
NOT CONSIDER THAT THE TRADE THREATENS THE SURVIVAL OF ANY
SPECIES
(C) TO OFFER THE COOPERATION OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES IN
GENERAL TERMS.
WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OFF DIRECT DISCUSSION OF THE CONVENTION. BUT WE WOULD REQUIRE DETAILED BRIEFING ON THE PRESENT TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG AS REGARDS THE SPECIES IN ... SCHEDULE TWO. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A COPY OF THE CONVENTION
AND ANY OTHER BACKGROUND MATERIAL.
MORGAN
FILE S: HKIOD . FED
SIR D. WATSON
MR. WILFORD MR. YOUDE
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON ST. LONDON
STD
LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL
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