CONFIDENTIAL
1. In terms of Britain's responsibility for Hong Kong, there is a very strong political case for doing what we can to help Hong Kong cope with the effects of the ban which HMG did much to secure. (One is tempted to wonder whether our policy at the CITES Conference would have been dictated by conservationist considerations to the same extent if traders in the UK had held upwards of £80 million-worth of ivory stocks acquired legally.) In any case, as paragraph 5 of the draft makes clear, we have a political, if not legal obligation to enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong, since Hong Kong cannot do so on its own account.
2.
minure
I agree with the recommendation and with the draft minute.
17 November 1989
Cc:
PS/Mr Waldegrave PS/PUS
Mr Bayne
Mr Gillmore
Mr Carrick
Mr Beetham, MAED
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Edwards, Legal Advisers Mr Paul, HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
выстри
RJT McLaren