{
CONF IDENT IAL
SPEAKING NOTE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S USE WITH MR PATTEN
Prime Minister sympathises with Hong Kong's need for six months breathing space (Charles Powell's letter of 19 December). Believes that Hong Kong's problems are genuine and cannot be ignored.
Recognise that entering reservation likely to attract criticism here. But hope you will reconsider. Believe the arguments for
helping Hong Kong are compelling:
(a) What we are suggesting is not a major concession to Hong
Kong. Simply a reasonable compromise to enable Hong Kong to adapt
to the CITES ban.
(b) Key point is that Hong Kong is prepared to ban all trade in ivory despite the importance of the industry in the territory. This
is a significant and substantial step forward. Believe we should
present the position in this light, not as a concession to Hong
Kong.
(c) Hong Kong traders' ivory stocks (£80 million) were acquired legally and in good faith. Giving them a reasonable time to dispose
of these stocks in an orderly fashion is equitable.
(d) Prime Ministers attaches importance to stringent controls
and monitoring of ivory trade during six month reservation period.
As you acknowledge, Hong Kong Government have gone to considerable
lengths to ensure this.
(e) HMG in any case has duty to act on Hong Kong's behalf (Hong Kong is unable to enter a reservation in its own right). Our Legal
Advisers confident that would be perfectly possible for UK to enter reservation for Hong Kong without our being regarded as being not a
party to the Convention.
(f) Possible grave constitutional implications if LegCo were to
refuse to enact legislation implementing ban. UK would then be in
breach of its international obligations under CITES.
ARTABE
CONFIDENTIAL
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