¡OLLGATE HSE
07.19.1989 17:03
NO.29
P. 3
I
PQ 4932/88/89
BACKGROUND NOTE
1.
2.
The Hong Kong situation is delicate,
Hong Kong is principally an importer of raw ivory and an exporter of worked ivory. Currently the Hong Kong authorities estimate that 500 tonnes of raw ivory and 100 tonnes of worked ivory are in stock, although these figures might be revised when the present exercise of registering all stocks' is completed
soon.
3. Hong Kong holds that these stocks have been acquired in strict compliance with the CITES Ivory Control Procedures.
4. Hong Kong has supported the Appendix I listing (and suspended the issue of new import permits in respect of raw ivory as an interim measure) but has said that its decision was based on the understanding that trade in existing "legal" stocks would continue.
5. The effect of the Appendix I listing, unless the Conference Resolution 5.11 is amended in October, would be to restrict legal trade in ivory to ivory acquired before the 26 February 1976 which would, it can be assumed, effectively disbar the current Hong Kong stocks,
6. There has been speculation that the UK might enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong - and this in theory is a possible course of action, but could only take place within 90 days of the Appendix I proposal being accepted.
7.
The effect of a reservation would be that Hong Kong would be treated as & state not party to the Convention with the respect to trade in African elephant until the reservation was withdrawn, although Hong Kong would be expected to treat the African elephant as if it were still on Appendix II.
8. The question of entering a reservation has not yet arisen.
9.
CITES Secretariat have been charged with drafting a resolution for consideration of Lausanne which would have the objective of allowing current legal stocks of ivory to enter trade should the Appendix I proposal be adopted.
10. The FCO have been consulted, and agree, with the proposed reply.
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