PJYAKJ
Mr Footman
Reference
Amad hilto
HKCISI
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17
PAR
17.2
*
meeking Floconcern
Miss Marsden
"RM 14/7
MEETING WITH MR FOLLAND (DOE), UK REPRESENTATIVE AT AFRICAN ELEPHANT
WORKING PARTY IN GABERONE
1. I attended the meeting to which Mr Hughes (MAED) referred in his minute of 11 July to Miss Marsden. Interested FCO and ODA departments were also present.
2.
Mr Folland reported that the Hong Kong ivory traders and workers who attended the Gaberone meeting had put over their case forcefully and convincingly. They argued the case for disposing of their legal stocks (500 tons of raw, 100 tons of worked, value HK$ 1 billion). They estimated this would take the traders 2 years and the carvers 5 years if markets were open to them. The Hong Kong authorities intend to ask the UK delegate to press their point home at the CITES meeting in Lausanne in October 1989. Mr Folland said he would do this.
3.
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The African producers were divided in Gaberone over their attitude: towards upgrading the African Elephant to CITES Appendix I Kenya and Tangeria want a total ban. Those southern African states with thriving and increasing herds, favour the principle of upgrading to Appendix I, but leaving their own elephants in Appendix II. They would then make trading arrangements direct with users willing to take the same ambivalent attitude. Despite this divergence of views Mr Folland thought that the African producer states would try to find a common course acceptable to all. This may or may not include recommendations which would help users Like Hong Kong. The African producers have promised to submit by 31 August a co-ordinated resolution for the October CITES agenda. As as the agenda is available MAED will consider how to submit on addressing to DOE, for airing at the CITES for the special circumstances of Hong Kong stocks and the situation of the southern African producer states.
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4. In the meantime the EC Environmental Comittee meet on 27 and 28 July to finalise the draft EC ban on imports of ivory and permissible exceptions. These exceptions might cover personal and household effects, antiques, trophies and items in transit at the time of the
(Incidentally movement within the EC is not covered by the ban which applies only to imports from outside the Community).
ban.
5. DOE Ministers have indicated that they do not want to be seen to recommend any exceptions but might not oppose those suggested by European partners. There may for instance be a call for an exception to be made covering keyboards for musical instruments.
6. At the meeting we agreed that it might benefit Hong Kong if an exception could be made in the EC ban for re-imports from Hong Kong. These are stocks which were exported from the EC (particularly Belgium), imported-legally before the suspension of imports on 9 June- for working in Hong Kong and subsequent re-export back to the
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CODE 18-77