FROM DRA LONDON.
ICT 68 61'2
10.12.1989 14:36
P. 4
Zelgiz zzze MON 1338
DRAFT LETTER FROM APS/SECRETARY OF STATE TO CHARLES POWELL
CITES
on
You asked for advice the telex sent to the Prime Minister by a number of on the the negotiations Green organisations criticising our
our position in
international ivory trade.
The
Government's position
as set out in the note I sent you on is precisely
To counteract Monday, following reports and speculation in the weekend press. continued misreporting, Mr Trippier issued the attached statement yesterday morning which might, I suggest, form the basis of the Prime Minister's reply.
there
The telex to the Prime Minister concentrates particularly on the Hong Kong issue
because of where
the Hong Kong
UK delegation. This is simply a
representatives'
is
some apparently
confusion
AS presence
part of
the
formality because Hong Kong, as a dependent territory, is not itself a member of
CITES. As
David Trippier's statement makes clear, it is however for the Hong Kong delegates themselves to make their case.
There
is по truth in the suggestion that members of the UK delegation have
themselves
been
make
case, their
seeking support for Hong Kong, other than ensuring that the Since the EC position is not to Hong Kong delegation can support Hong Kong the UK delegation will abstain in the vote, as the Prime
Minister knows.
The
attended
telex also asserts that Mr Folland, the leader of the UK delegation has not
the elephant debates.
For example he any of
This is simply untrue. spent 24 hours on Monday evening at a meeting of the African Elephant Working Group, There are of course simultaneous debates in a number of different fora, But I all of which have been attended by members of the UK delegation. imagine that the Prime Minister will not wish to debate this issue.
I am copying this letter to Richard Gozney.