CONFIDENTIAL
HKCISI
RECEIVED IN/REGISTRY
17 JAN 1990
2901.
Mr Paul, HKD
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
Action Taken
Mr Haley
Wo
6
Hong Kong and the Ivory Trade
The Secretary of State has seen your submission of
5 January. He does not have much sympathy with Hong Kong's arguments which illustrate the inflexibility of our relation- ship with them. He thinks that it is unfortunate that it is public knowledge in Hong Kong that HMG have been asked to enter a reservation. He reluctantly accepts that in the circumstances it is best to enter a reservation (and understands that DOE officials are resigned to this anyway following the Prime Minister's intervention).
The Secretary of State would be grateful for a minute to Mr Patten stressing in particular two points in your draft speaking note:
(a) the point that it is an important step forward that Hong Kong is prepared to ban all trade in ivory;
(b) that we have a duty to act on Hong Kong's behalf
because Hong Kong is unable to enter a reservation itself.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JAN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
AHOTHY Action Taken
8 January-
CC:
(R N Peirce)
PS/Mr Waldegrave
PS/Mr Maude
Mr Gillmore
Mr Bayne
Mr
McLaren
Mr Beetham,
MAED
Mr Burns, News Dept
Miss Barrett, Legal Advisers
Mr Lidington
CONFIDENTIAL