RESTRICTED
E H Nichols Esq
Director of Agriculture & Fisheries
Agriculture & Fisheries
HONG KONG
LAST
REF.
(15)
الأهاله
Exter & bu /8
22)
233-4777
la
کاش تمرکه که
7 July 1977
NEXT
REF.
1. Thank you for your letter CR 18/1280 of 29 April.
2. Let me say straight away that all of us here in HKGD would welcome a chance to see you some time in August and September when you come to the UK. So too, I know, would Bill O'Hara in Science and Technology Department (with whom I think you have already been in touch).
If you would like and can spare the time, I could also make appointments for you to meet those Customs and Department of Environment Officials who deal with protectionist matters in the UK. You might find it useful to know a little more of how we do things here. If you agree to all this and do not object to turning busman for a small part of your holiday perhaps, nearer your arrival, you could let me have your dates in London and an address where you could be contacted (if not at the Hong Kong Government Office).
3. I do have some thoughts to raise with you on that section of your letter which deals with endangered species. However, I think these can wait until the Autumn. One point there which I might make now arises in the second complete paragraph on page 2 of your letter and concerns elephant ivory. You seem to make a distinction between worked and unworked ivory, but I must point out that there is no distinction in the Washington Convention between these two. It is the species which are listed and parties to the Convention are expected to control all recog- nizable parts and derivitives of such species. You cannot, therefore simply lift your reservation .on unworked ivory. It is all or nothing.
4.
Regarding UK legislation on cruelty to animals, I can confirm that there is no overall authority in which enforcement powers are vested.
5. Perhaps I can steal this opportunity to thank you for your very prompt reply to FCO telno 497 of 30 June. I hope that Mr Arnold's PQ is not a sign of things to come.
T J David
Hong Kong & General Department
cc: Mr O'Hara (Science & Technology Dept)
RESTRICTED