RESTRICTED
(113)
171526
MDHIAN 8117
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 661
OF 22075OZ FEBRUARY 90
in
YOUR TELNO 401: IVORY:
(DISTRIBUTION AMENDED 22ND FEBRUARY)
The 151/1
RECEIVED IN USTRY
LEGISLATIVE TIMETABLE
22 FEB 1990
DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION IS BEING DRAFTED. OUR TENTATIVE TIMETABLE IS:
(A) TO EXCO LATE MARCH
(B)
-
INTRODUCTION INTO LEGCO EITHER 4 APRIL OR, MORE LIKELY, 2 MAY
(C)
COMES INTO EFFECT 18 JULY
-
2.
LEAKEY ALLEGES:
(A)
(B)
(C)
THAT THE HONG KONG MARKET HAS BEEN QUOTE FREED UNQUOTE:
THAT IVORY IS MOVING OUT OF HONG KONG: AND
THAT IVORY INTERCEPTED IN TANZANIA AND KENYA WAS DESTINED FOR HONG KONG: AS EVIDENCE HE QUOTES FROM ARRESTED SMUGGLERS.
THE FACTS ARE:
ON (A)
- ON
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ON (B)
ON (C)
THAT HONG KONG'S IVORY MARKET IS ANYTHING BUT FREE. IMPORTS ARE BANNED AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME: POSSESSION IS CONTROLLED BY LICENCE AND EXPORTS MAY ONLY BE MADE TO NON-CITES PARTIES.
THAT NO IVORY HAS BEEN EXPORTED SINCE 18 JANUARY CONE EXPORT LICENCE FOR 5.8 KG OF WORKED IVORY HAS BEEN ISSUED: BUT SHIPMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN EFFECTED): AND
THAT WE HAVE DETECTED NO UPSURGE IN ATTEMPTED SMUGGLING THE MOST RECENT SEIZURES OF SUBSTANTIAL
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