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047203 MDHIAN 9535
OPINION REMAINED SHARPLY DIVIDED BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND OTHER SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES EG BOTSWANA, AND HARD-LINE AFRICAN STATES SUCH AS KENYA, WHO JOINED WITH THE US AND A NUMBER OF NGOS IN OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL. THE DISCUSSION ENDED INCONCLUSIVELY AND WILL BE RESUMED ON
12 OCTOBER.
4. AT EC COORDINATION, VIEWS WERE DIVIDED ON AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 5.11 ON EXISTING STOCKS. NETHERLANDS, FRG, DENMARK AND FRANCE WERE AGAINST ANY AMENDMENT, WITH PORTUGAL AND BELGIUM IN FAVOUR. UK REFERRED TO POSSIBLE ABSTENTION ON HONG KONG. THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE TO
COMMISSION AND TO EC PARTNERS.
5. INTENSE UK PRESS INTEREST CONTINUED. THE DELEGATION WAS PRESSED
HARD TO STATE WHETHER OR NOT THE UK SUPPORTED AN EXEMPTION FOR HONG KONG. WE STUCK TO THE AGREED LINE, BUT THE PRESS REMAINED DISSATISFIED. AS DISCUSSED (TELECON MUCHMORE/GREEN 11 OCTOBER) PRESS
BELIEVE THAT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT IN LONDON OUTLINING UK POLICY ON
APPENDIX I AND ON EXEMPTIONS INCLUDING HONG KONG WOULD CLEAR UP EXISTING CONFUSION. WE THEREFORE WELCOME DOE DECISION TO SUBMIT DRAFT STATEMENT TO MINISTERS. GRATEFUL YOU FAX AGREED TEXT URGENTLY TO ENABLE US TO BRIEF PRESS HERE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
t.
''DAILY
WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FAX CONTAINING TEXT OF MAIL ARTICLE OF 11 OCTOBER. WE TOOK THIS UP STRAIGHTAWAY WITH RYAN WHO HAD NOT SEEN THE ARTICLE AND WAS APOLOGETIC. HE CLAIMED THAT HE
HAD WRITTEN THAT THE HEAD OF THE UK DELEGATION WAS NOT PRESENT FOR
THE LALONDE SPEECH.
7. NGOS CONTINUED CAMPAIGN AGAINST UK DELEGATION BY WRITING TO PRIME
MINISTER COMPLAINING THAT UK HAS APPARENTLY CHANGED ITS STANCE ON HONG KONG AND THAT FOLLAND'S FAILURE TO ATTEND ANY OF THE ELEPHANT
DEBATES INDICATES LACK OF INTEREST BY UK. TEXT OF LETTER FAXED TO MAED AND GREEN (DOE). AS EXPLAINED (TELECON EVANS/HUGHES) ALLEGATION
ABOUT FOLLAND IS INCORRECT., HE ATTENDED AFRICAN ELEPHANT WORKING GROUP MEETING ON 9 OCTOBER (UK EXPERTS FROM NATURE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL WERE PRESENT AT ALL SESSIONS OF COMMITTEE I).
SANKEY
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