SECRETARY
OF STATE
FOR THE ENVIRONMEN
HKCISI
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JAN 1990
The Rt Hon Douglas Hurd Foreign and Commonwealth
GISTBY
Downing Street LONDON
Action Taken
SW1
348
MARSHAM STREET
Mi Paul, HKD - Almept. 2 MNDON SWIP 3EB
PS/MrMandl PS / Mr Wald My Gettore Mr Bayne Mis Mclaren Mr Lidington Mr Beetham, MAED
01-276 3000
My ref:
Your ref:
18 December 1989
Dear Foreign Secretary Wilaya
Thank you for your letter of 7 December proposing that the United Kingdom enter a reservation on Hong Kong's behalf to the decision taken at Lausanne to place the African elephant on Appendix I of the Convention.
I do appreciate the sensitivities of anything relating to Hong Kong at the present time. I also appreciate the special circumstances in the Colony and recognise the considerable lengths to which the authorities, and the industry, have gone to ensure that the present stocks of ivory there are monitored and controlled. But all these measures were fully explained to the Conference before the parties there voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposal that would have allowed trade in existing stocks. And you will recall we attracted considerable criticism from the UK press and the environmental lobbies generally for our decision to abstain from the vote on the issue.
If, under Article XV (3) of the Washington Convention, we were to make the reservation you propose, it would seem that the United Kingdom would be treated as a State not party to the Convention with respect to trade in the African elephant, although we would wish to make clear that the reservation was in respect of Hong Kong and for no longer than July 1990.
Thus to enter a reservation would be in my view ill advised. It would be misunderstood by the public at large. It would attract further, and no doubt well orchestrated criticism. It would be difficult to defend. We would be seen as acting in a manner inconsistent with our hitherto unwavering support for the Appendix I listing (and its consequences), and the lead we gave to the rest of the Community in the months leading up to the Lausanne Conference. I believe that the political arguments against entering a reservation are substantial.
I cannot therefore give you the confirmation you seek.
I am copying this letter to the Prime Minister.
CE
чет Bash
PP CHRIS PATTEN
(approved by the Secretary of State
and signed
CONFIDENTIAL~~
in
his
absence)