This Isili
RESTRICTED
Miss Marsden Mc Holroyd
FROM:
DATE:
-8 MAR 1990
22/2
CC:
Secretary of State
((37)
Maurice Fraser
21 February 1990
PS/All Ministers Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Edis, EAD
Mr Beetham, MAED
Mr Burns, News Dept Mr Evans,
MAED
Mr Lidington
///
HONG KONG IVORY
1.
-
Our reservation on behalf of Hong Kong has brought a predictable public outcry - notably amongst many of our natural supporters. So far, the Department has received 197 letters from MPS on behalf of their constituents and 1123 letters direct from members of the public. There have also been a few petitions. No 10 has received nearly 1,000 letters. Many of the writers say they will break the habit of a lifetime by not voting Conservative at the next general election; others are giving up their party membership. I attach a few typical examples.
2.
Dr Richard Leakey, Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, gave interviews on BBC Radio 4 and LBC this morning, and directly attributed the loss of 25 elephants in Kenya last month to the
'freeing of the Hong Kong market' by HMG. He referred to large shipments of ivory suddenly leaving Tanzania and Kenya for Hong Kong, two of which, he says, have been intercepted. It would be helpful if EAD could check this, as we will need to deal with this charge.
3.
-
Dr Leakey also made an appeal for lots of equipment, such as radios, vehicles, fences, etc. ODA already provide some assistance for this purpose. We ought to consider whether more aid should be made available, and give it as high a publicity profile as possible if we are to make up some of the lost ground.
RESTRICTED
M.F
MAURICE FRASER Special Adviser