CONFIDENTIAL
C
D
E
exported, and that Hong Kong have checked all commercial stocks of ivory and found no evidence of any having been acquired illegally.
Public concern
13. The discrepancy over the size of the ivory stockpile and the
lack of CITES documents for 116 tonnes of the stockpile are points
which have already been picked up by the press, by conservationist
organisations (eg Sir Christopher Lever's letter of 16 March to the
Prime Mininster) and by Mr Tony Banks MP. A US Congressman has also asked for information about the quantity of ivory exported from Hong
Kong and the number of carvers retrained.
Conclusion
14.
Against this background, I therefore suggest that the draft
letters to OD (K) colleagues and the standard letter to MPs should
not only highlight the positive points regarding progress of the legislation, strict enforcement system and our offer to investigate any evidence of illegal trading, but should also cover the points
where we are open to criticism.
15. Now that ExCo has approved the draft legislation and agreed that it should be introduced into LegCo on 4 April, the inspired PQ should be tabled as soon as possible.
ARPanc
A R Paul