FROM D OF E DRA 2 TA
6.28.1989 16:53
African elephant from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES. The
Government appreciates, however, that this a complex matter which
involves many difficult issues such as the fate of existing legal
stocks of ivory. These issues will be discussed at the next
Conference of the Parties to CITES in October, The UK will
listen carefully to all the arguments and play a full Bart
discussione.
In the meantime,
representatives of the Hong Kong ivory trade
will, I understand, be
Elephant Working Group in Botswana from 4-7 July and will have an
opportunity to argue their case there. The Conference of the
Parties wi11 doubtless give careful consideration to the resulte
of this meeting and to the views expressed there by trading
attending the meeting of the African
intereste.
I read with interest your proposal for a moratorium on trade
new ivory ta allow stocks of ivory from natural wastage
elephants to build up. We shall bear this proposal in mind as
prepare for the Conference,
Turning to the recent ban on the import of ivory into
European Community, the Government believes that this measure
necessary to minimise the threat to the elephant,
in
of
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the
16
whilst a lond
term strategy for its future survival, which is a matter for the
Conference, i werked out
The Severnment
is aware of the loss of businemd and effect
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traders in Flong Kong that a long term ban on the ivory trade
would have.
Trade in
endangered
species in Hong Kong 19,
P. 2