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areas. Attempts are being made by the NGO Community and African states who favour Appendix I listing to exert political pressure on the Southern African states to accept a complete ban on commercial trade. But there is no sign
that these latter countries are wavering in their
determination to ensure that some trade in ivory continues. These countries do not see why trade in their ivory should caase and they have threatened to enter a reservation against Appendix I listing, if it is accepted. (The effect of entering a reservation is that the country in question is
not considered a Party to the Convention in respect of that particular species. In the case of the African elephant, any country entering a reservation would be expected to maintain existing controls under the Appendix II listing.)
Japan
3. Furthermore, it is possible that if these African countries enter reservations, Japan may follow suit. has a large ivory industry supplying the Japanese domestic market. They have already indicated that they do not support a complete ban on trade in ivory and would no doubt be happy to obtain their ivory from the Southern African states. The entry of reservations by such major producers and consumers of ivory would nullify the effects of
Appendix I listing, and would leave a gaping loophole through which illegal ivory could enter trade.
4.
In
If no agreement is reached on allowing trade in existing "legal" stocks, Hong Kong, which as a UK dependent territory would not be able to enter a reservation itself, would be likely to press the UK to do so on its behalf. view of the leading role which the UK has taken in introducing a unilateral ban on ivory imports and in urging other Community states to support the case for Appendix I listing, it is difficult to see any way in which we could agree to enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong.
5. Such an open disagreement would also be damaging to the effectiveness of CITES, to its International standing, and may set a precedent for future conflict. To avoid this, the