RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 74
OF 060500Z JANUARY 90
RESTRICTED
HKCSI
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JAN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
171781
MDLIAN 8408
TOP COPY DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 26: IVORY
WE ARE FAXING THE RELEVANT PRESS ARTICLE TO HOLROYDE, HKD. THERE ARE INDEED THREE CASES IN WHICH EXPORT LICENCES HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR IVORY CONSIGNED TO COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE BANNED IVORY IMPORTS. NO SUCH IVORY HAS, SO FAR, BEEN EXPORTED. DETAILS:
.
(A) TO JAPAN: ONE FRENCH-OWNED CONSIGNMENT OF 1,039 KG OF RAW
IVORY ORIGINALLY IMPORTED FOR SALE TO A HONG KONG TRADER IN AUGUST 1989 THE3 SALE DID NOT GO THROUGH LEAVING THE FRENCH OWNER TO FIND A PURCHASER ELSEWHERE. THE LICENCE HAS NOT YET BEEN COLLECTED FROM THE HKMA:
(B)
TO FRG: TWO LOCALLY-OWNED CONSIGNMENTS OF WORKED IVORY (NETSUKE, BRACELETS, COMBS AND TOOTHPICKS) TOTALLING 5.6 KG. BOTH LICENCES HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED
FOR CANCELLATION.
2.
OUR POSITION IN GRANTING EXPORT LICENCES IS THAT PROVIDED THE
IVORY CONCERNED HAS BEEN LEGALLY ACQUIRED AND IS LEGALLY HELD IN HONG KONG, THEN WE HAVE A DUTY TO EXAMINE ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT LICENCES ON THEIR OWN MERITS. UNDER THE CITES RULES, GIVEN THAT THE ELEPHANT REMAINS FOR THE MOMENT IN APPENDIX II, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR US TO CONSIDER THE STATED DESTINATION AS A
MATERIAL FACTOR. IT IS UP TO THE EXPORTER TO ARRANGE FOR THE IMPORT
OF THE IVORY INTO THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION.
WILSON
YYYY