CONFIDENTIAL
329
045000
MDHOAN 8555
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 29010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 2390
OF 28190OZ NOVEMBER__89
328
HKC.151
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELNO 3915: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE
1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS HOLDING A MEETING TOMORROW AT WHICH
A DECISION WILL BE TAKEN ON WHETHER TO ENTER A RESERVATION ON
HONG KONG'S BEHALF: THE ISSUE IS STILL IN THE BALANCE.
2.
WE WILL OBVIOUSLY DEPLOY ALL THE ARGUMENTS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
BUT AS YOU SUGGESTED DURING YOUR VISIT, WE THINK THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT TO USE IS THAT WE SIMPLY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DISCHARGE OUR OBLIGATION TO ACT ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF IN A FORUM WHERE HONG
KONG HAS NO INDEPENDENT VOICE.
3. WE HAVE ALREADY TELEGRAHPED REQUESTING HELP IN PROVIDING SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE UK HAS ACTED ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF EG IN THE GATT CONTEXT. WE APPRECIATE THAT IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO TRACE ANY SUCH EXAMPLES IN THE TIME AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD NEVERTHELESS BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS, OR, FAILING THAT A CONSIDERED EXPLANATION OF THE DOCTRINE ON WHICH WE COULD DRAW AT THE MEETING.
4. GRATEFUL FOR A REPLY DESKBY 2909OOZ.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
15
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL