The position is further complicated by the fact the 116 tonnes out of the total stockpile of 474 tonnes was found to have no CITES documentation. The reason for this is that some of the ivory was imported before CITES controls were introduced or had become detached from its CITES documentation in the course of a number of transactions. Although the Hong Kong authorities have found no evidence that any of these stocks were illegally imported, they have decided not to allow any ivory which does not have CITES documentation to be exported from the territory. There should thus be no possibility of any ivory which could have been illegally acquired reaching the world market through Hong Kong.
I am copying this letter to the Private Secretaries of OD (K) members and to Sonia Phippard (Cabinet Office).
ever
Yours
взво
(R N Peirce)
Private Secretary
CD Powell Esq 10 Downing Street