Mr McLaren
Private Secretary
CONF IDENT IAL
HKCISI RECEIVED IN REGISTRY N 17 JAN 1998
OFSAK OFFICER INCS
REGISTRY
Action Taken
FROM:
DATE:
CC:
Suretan State
Bl
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
5 January 1990
PS/Mr Waldegrave
PS/Mr Maude
Mr Gillmore
Mr Bayne
Mr Beetham, MAED
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Lidington
Miss Barrett, Legal
Advisers
HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE
1. The Secretary of State asked whether it would be feasible to
delay implementing the CITES resolution, rather than enter a reservation against it. I have sought legal advice and obtained a
view from the Governor.
A
2. Our Legal Advisers advise that if the UK does not enter a
reservation, failure to implement the ban in Hong Kong by 18 January 1990 would constitute a breach of the UK's international legal
obligations under the CITES Convention. HMG is responsible for
securing implementation of the Convention in Hong Kong by the due
date.
B
It sho
hur
hour
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3. The Governor also has strong reservations about this option.
His reasons are set out in Hong Kong telno 59. The key point is
that it is public knowledge in Hong Kong that HMG have been asked to
enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong. A decision not to do
so could be criticised as inactivity on our part.
JONABO
nou
CONFIDENTIAL