R+B
RESTRICTED
cc Ms Hatton Doe Suita
We stole. Would
Mike
પ
Please BRITISH EMBASSY IN THE of the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
let me lique copies of
قسمت
legislation refloned to at DUBAI
Para 6?
Mi Cami
если
John Jaff
7/6
J Kelly Esq m Deilbr
MED
FCO
The
TRADE
-IVORY
John
2
30 May 1989
Meffrey
261/3
7/6
MAED
This all seems like good
auswer will you ou
news
para, 6 please.
MAGD benter
урове
6/6
1. This may be a good moment to offer you a round-up on recent adventures in the ivory trade. You will have seen the articles in "Today" and my telegram distress 22 about the misfortunes of the two journalists.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27(1), 40 & 41F
The Head of Protocol here was therefore surprised to be told by the visiting journalists that there was still an ivory factory in Dubai, and having incautiously bet them £10,000 that there was not, was taken to see the factory. He immediately gave instructions to the police to close it down, on the grounds that the operation had no trade license, and a recent visit has confirmed that this has indeed happened.
4. I have been in touch with the legal adviser to the Ruler of Ajman to remind him of the Ruler's undertaking to expel the Poon Brothers
from their factory in the Ajman Free Zone to check if it has been implement and to ask if he would take similar action in respect of the factory that the "Today" team unearthed. He replied positively on both points.
5. Lastly, I should record that Mr Eugene Lapointe, Secretary-General of CITES, visited the UAE as forecast in Michael Tait's teleletter to you on 19 April. What neither I nor Michael had realised was that he came at the request of the Minister of Agriculture. He found the Minister looking for ways to rejoin CITES without loss of face and, on my advice, was profuse with offers of help in particular in drafting any necessary legislation.
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