Secretary of State
CONFIDENTIAL
HKCIS
FROM:
David Lidington
DATE:
18 December 1989
c.c.
PS/Mr Maude
PS/Mr Waldegrave Mr Gillmore
Mr Bayne
Mr McLaren
TRYMr Paul, HKD
Mr Beetham, MAED
RECEIVED IN SC
17 JAN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
~ISTRY
Fraser Yeo
(340)
HONG KONG IVORY TRADE
1. I have seen the letter to you of 18 December from the Secretary of State for the Environment.
2.
Although the substantive arguments about this topic have not changed since your decision, the political climate has. We are going to have to mount a forceful and persuasive campaign to convince Conservative supporters in Parliament and in the country that our citizenship package for Hong Kong should be approved. Anything which distracts our energies from this central battle is unwelcome.
3. The proposed exemption for Hong Kong for six months from the CITES Convention will damage Hong Kong's reputation in this country and will at best not help our task in selling the citizenship deal. Surely the Convention is something which LegCo could be induced to swallow in the interests of getting their more important prize from Parliament.
Del
David Lidington Special Adviser
CONFIDENTIAL