UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 433
OF 09101OZ FEBRUARY 89
UNCLASSIFIED
HKC isi
sili
074003
MDHIAN 1723
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
FOR MORRIS, HKD
HKD 14
фи
YOUR TELNO 353: HONG KONG AND RHINO HORN
-
1. IN OUR VARIOUS 1988 TELEGRAMS ON THIS SUBJECT FOR EXAMPLE 0347 (26 JANUARY), 1756 (10 MAY), 2581 (6 JULY) AND 2801 (22 JULY), WE
SAID THAT
(A) INTERNAL SALE OF RHINO HORN WOULD BE BANNED FROM JULY 1988 (IN
FACT THE BAN CAME INTO EFFECT ON 1 AUGUST 1988):
(B)
INTERNAL SALE OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS CLAIMING TO CONTAIN RHINO INDEGREDIENTS WOULD BE BANNED IN THE CONTEXT OF A REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE:
(C)
NEW PRIMARY LEGISLATION WOULD BE NEEDED TO BAN SUCH MEDICINAL
PRODUCTS:
AND
(D) WE HOPED TO INTRODUCE THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION IN THE 1988/89
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
2. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT AT SOME POINT CONFUSION HAS ARISIN BETWEEN THE BANNING OF INTERNAL SALE OF RHINO HORN ITSELF (WHICH COULD BE ACHIEVED ADMINISTRATIVELY) AND THE BANNING OF THE SALE OF RHINO
INGREDIENTS IN MEDICINES (WHICH NEEDS AMENDING LEGISLATION).
WE SHOULD COME CLEAN AND SAY SO.
3.
PERHAPS
THE FACTUAL POSITION AT THE MOMENT IS THAT WE HAVE A DRAFT BILL
AMONGST WHOSE PROVISIONS ARE PROPOSALS TO BAN THE SALE OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS CLAIMING TO CONTAIN RHINO INGREDIENTS AND THAT WE HOPE TO INTRODUCE THIS BILL DURING THE PRESENT SESSION.
WILSON
PAGE 1 UNCLASSIFIED