CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 17010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 174
OF 16180OZ JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
26
022676
MDHOAN 1278
CONFIDENTIAL
HECISIN
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JAN 1990
DESK OPRICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
OP COPY Q DIST ?
MIPT: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE
1.
FOLLOWING IS DRAFT PRESS LINE:
LINE TO TAKE
2. THE UK SUPPORTS THE RE-LISTING OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT ONTO APPENDIX I OF CITES (IE A BAN ON TRADE IN IVORY) BUT ALSO
RECOGNISES THAT HONG KONG FACES CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES OVER
DISPOSING OF ITS STOCKS OF LEGALLY-ACQUIRED IVORY. A SIX-MONTH
RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG MEETS OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO
A DEPENDENT TERRITORY WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR SUPPORT FOR
MEASURES TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT.
ADDITIONAL POINTS
3.
(A) WHY A RESERVATION?
TO ALLOW HONG KONG TRADERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPOSE OF
THEIR LEGALLY-ACQUIRED STOCKS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
(B) IS UK STILL COMMITTED TO CITES
UK FULLY COMMITTED TO CITES. RESERVATION APPLIES TO HONG
KONG FOR SIX MONTHS ONLY. DOES NOT APPLY TO UK OR ANY OTHER
DEPENDENT TERRITORY.
(C) HONG KONG HAS BAD RECORD ON CONSERVATION
-
HONG KONG FULLY COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING AFRICAN ELEPHANT. HAS BANNED IMPORTS OF IVORY AND INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT CITES BAN ON ALL TRADE IN SIX MONTHS.
(D) IVORY IN HONG KONG WAS ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED?
IVORY HELD IN HONG KONG LEGALLY ACQUIRED UNDER CITES. (E) CONTINUED TRADE WILL PROVIDE LOOPHOLE FOR ENTRY OF ILLEGAL
IVORY ONTO MARKET AND THEREFORE ENCOURAGE MORE POACHING
-
IF WE BELIEVED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE ENTERED THE
RESERVATION. ENTRY ONTO MARKET OF HONG KONG STOCKPILE IS NOT A THREAT TO LIVING ELEPHANTS. MAKES NO SENSE FOR ANYONE TO IMPORT, ILLEGALLY, MORE IVORY INTO HONG KONG WHERE THERE IS A STOCKPILE OF 600 TONNES OF LEGAL IVORY AND NO DOMESTIC MARKET. (F) WHAT MEASURES HAVE HONG KONG TAKEN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRADE
IN 1989 HONG KONG INTRODUCED FURTHER CONTROLS TO COMBAT
ILLEGAL TRADE. THESE INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL CUSTOMS
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CONFIDENTIAL