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1990 WOULD GIVE THE TRADERS NO RECOURSE TO EXTRICATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR POSITION - THEY WOULD BE UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE TO TRADE ILLEGALLY AND WE WOULD HAVE TO INTERVENE. THIS WOULD GENERATE DOMESTIC PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR THE TRADERS AND HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE HKG, AND, BY IMPLICATION, UKG IF A RESERVATION WAS NOT ENTERED ON HK'S BEHALF:
(D) THE CHANCES OF THE LEGISLATURE BLOCKING THE REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE BAN WERE HIGH SINCE THEY WOULD BE SEEN TO BE LEGISLATING AGAINST HONG KONG INTERESTS AND IN FAVOUR OF A QUOTE UNREASONABLE UNQUOTE UK DECISION. THE ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE BLOCKING LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD CREATE SERIOUS POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE LEGISLATM WAS UNLIKELY TO HAVE WIDE SUPPORT AMONG THE LOCAL COMMUNITY:
(E) A SIMILAR RESERVATION WAS MADE FOR HONG KONG WHEN THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT WAS UPLISTED TO APPENDIX II IN 1977: AND
(F) A RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG WOULD NOT EFFECT THE UK'S OWN POSITION AS REGARDS CITES.
3. THE RESERVATION WE PROPOSE WILL NOT BE ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY FOR THE UK NOR FOR HONG KONG WE ARE UNDER VERY CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO SEEK A FAR LONGER PERIOD THAN SIX MONTHS BUT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, WE FEEL THAT SIX MONTHS IS THE BEST COMPROMISE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. GIVEN OUR TIGHT CONTROL OF EXISTING STOCKS IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO CONVINCE THE CONSERVATIONIST LOBBY THAT HONG KONG WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LAUNDER ILLEGAL IVORY FROM ELSEWHERE DURING THE SIX MONTH PERIOD.
4. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF ACCOUNT COULD BE TAKEN OF THE EXCO DECISION AND THE REASONS BEHIND IT IN COMING TO A CONCLUSION IN THIS MATTER. AN EARLY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BUY-OUT FUND WOULD BE APPRECIATED SINCE THE NEED FOR THE RESERVATION HANGS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE FUND. THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG CONTRIBUTING TO SUCH A FUND WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON THE REACTIONS OF OTHERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
WILSON
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