From The Minister of State
Alistair Darling Esq MP
House of Commons
LONDON
SW1A OAA
framala
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
6 August 1990
Dear Alistair
Thank you for your letter of 17 July to Douglas Hurd with which you enclosed one from your constituent,
Mr Brian Black of 23b Dundas Street, Edinburgh, about ivory in Hong Kong. Lord Caithness has Ministerial responsibility for Hong Kong at the Foreign Office but I am replying in his absence.
The six month Reservation which we entered on Hong Kong's behalf was withdrawn as planned with effect from 18 July 1990. No appeal for an extension of the Reservation was made either by or on behalf of Hong Kong. Hong Kong legislation now fully reflects the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Mr Black suggests that Hong Kong's ivory stocks should be destroyed. Whereas the ivory destroyed by the Kenyan Government was poached ivory, all but a tiny proportion of Hong Kong's ivory stocks were legally acquired and are legally held. The Hong Kong Government have no plans at present to destroy the relatively small amount (2.5 tonnes) of confiscated ivory. They are already fully committed to strict enforcement of the CITES regulations and see no need to make gestures of this sort as a further sign of their commitment.
Yousere Lynda
LYNDA CHALKER