CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2396
OF 29180OZ NOVEMBER 89
CONFIDENTIAL
НКС 151
334
052327 MDHOAN 8694
MDHOA
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL HKD
YOUR TELNO 393 HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE
1.
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
a
WE WERE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION IN YOUR TELEGRAM WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TO GOOD USE IN TODAY'S MEETING.
2 THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO ENTER A SIX MONTH RESERVATION ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF AND HE IS PREPARED TO WRITE TO THE ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY PROPOSING THIS. 3. HE REMAINS CONCERNED HOWEVER ABOUT ONE ASPECT OF THE MATTER. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT LEGAL OUTLETS FOR THE IVORY STOCKS WILL BE AVAILABLE DURING THE SIX MONTH PERIOD. WE HAVE HEARD THAT THE LIKELY DESTINATIONS ARE TAIWAN AND CHINA, NEITHER OF WHICH IS A PARTY TO CITES. PRESUMABLY EXPORTS TO, FOR EXAMPLE, JAPAN ARE RULED OUT BY VIRTUE OF ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITES
BAN.
GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE EXACT POSITION.
4 IF IT IS TRUE THAT VERY FEW OUTLETS EXIST, CAN WE BE SURE THAT SIX MONTHS WILL SUFFICE TO ENABLE STOCKS TO BE DISPOSED OF? WE WOULD NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT SIX MONTHS IS THE ABSOLUTE LIMIT AND THERE COULD BE NO QUESTION OF AN EXTENSION. WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO ANY REMAINING STOCKS AT THE END OF THE SIX MONTH
PERIOD?
5.
$
I AM KEEN TO SUBMIT ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU COULD ARRANGE FOR A DETAILED REPLY BY RETURN.
HURD
YYYY
GRATEFUL
ΜΑΙΝ
15
LIMITED
HKD
NNN N
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN