CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 13020OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 109
OF 12173OZ JANUARY 90
HKCISI
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 17 JAN 1990
OPPICER
REGISTRY
RAA
4&ion Taxcorr
012233
MDHOAN 1059/
YOUR TELNO 74 IVORY
1. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS EXPLANATION. WE ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE UNDER NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO CONSIDER THE DESTINATION OF RE-EXPORTED IVORY AS A MATERIAL FACTOR IN THE ISSUING OF EXPORT LICENCES. HOWEVER, SHOULD HMG ENTER A RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG WE WILL HAVE TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD, IN THE FACE OF UNDOUBTED PRESS AND PUBLIC HOSTILITY, TO JUSTIFY YOUR AND OUR POSITION THAT TIGHT CONTROL OF TRADE IN EXISTING IVORY STOCKS FROM HONG KONG WILL NOT ALLOW ILLEGAL TRADE IN IVORY. WE WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ARGUE THIS IF IVORY, CARRYING LEGAL EXPORT PERMITS FROM HONG KONG, WAS TO APPEAR IN COUNTRIES WHICH HAD BANNED THE IMPORT OF IVORY INCLUDING THE UK.
2.
THE US APPEARS UNWILLING TO LET THIS MATTER REST. ITS MISSION TO THE EC HAS APPROACHED THE COMMISSION TO COMPLAIN AGAIN ABOUT THE APPROVAL BY THE HONG KONG AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF LICENCES FOR THE EXPORT OF STOCKPILED IVORY TO JAPAN AND WEST GERMANY QUOTE IN SPITE OF FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT THESE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE BANNED IVORY IMPORTS UNQUOTE.
WWF OFFICIALS IN HONG KONG HAVE REPORTEDLY QUOTE DECRIED THE ACTION WHICH MAY ABET THE SMUGGLING OF IVORY INTO THESE COUNTRIES UNQUOTE.
3. GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE BY 15093OZ ON WHAT ACTION YOU WOULD TAKE, IN THE EVENT OF A RESERVATION BEING ENTERED, TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
HURD
YYYY
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