RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 09100OZ FCO
TELNO 1518
OF 090845Z MAY 90
217
YOUR TELNO 930: IVORY PQ'S
RESTRICTED
075421
MDHIAN 9770
Hire 15/1
RL.
TO MAY 1990
IN
1. WE HAVE CONSIDERED YOUR ALTERNATIVE WORDING TO QUESTION 1864. WHILE WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF DISPOSING OF THESE ITEMS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, YOUR WORDING COMMITS US TO THAT SITUATION FOREVER. WE AGREE, THOUGH, THAT OUR VERSION COULD BE MORE POSITIVE, HOWEVER, AND SUGGEST INSTEAD ...HAS NO INTENTION OF OFFERING THE ITEMS FOR SALE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.'
2. THIS WOULD THUS COVER THE SITUATION WHERE AN EVENTUAL DOWNGRADING BY CITES OF THE SPECIES CONCERNED WOULD ALLOW PROPER DISPOSAL.
3=
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT WWF HAS IN THE PAST SOUGHT THAT FUNDS GENERATED BY SUCH SALES GO TOWARDS CONSERVATION CAUSES, AND IF THIS IS CORRECT IT DEMONSTRATES THAT EVEN WWF IS NOT ENTIRELY AGAINST SUCH SALES.
4.
INTERESTINGLY, THIS SAME QUESTION MUST BE FACING MANY ELEPHANT RANGE STATES, WHEREBY THEY ARE ACCUMULATING CONFISCATED IVORY STOCKS WHICH ARE UNSALEABLE AT PRESENT. WE DOUBT WHETHER SUCH STATES WOULD BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT SUCH STOCKS WOULD NEVER BE SOLD OR AUCTIONED, AND WE THEREFORE WISH TO ADOPT A SIMILAR POSITION.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
20
MINIMAL
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
20
MAED
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