CONFIDENTIAL
HKC031/9
154477
MDLIAN 7186
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1311
OF 301007Z APRIL 91
DAY
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
1/5
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(5)
2ND IPT: TRO SUB-GROUP MULTILATERAL TREATIES: CONSERVATION
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1 DRAFT PAPER ON INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATIONS OF WHALING (1946) PROTOCOL TO THE 1946 CONVENTION (1956)
BEGINS
THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING (THE 'CONVENTION') WAS SIGNED IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON 2DECEMBER 1946 AND CAME INTO FORCE ON 10 NOVEMBER 1948 (TEXT AT ANNEX A). ITS OBJECTIVE IS TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL REGULATION FOR WHALE FISHERIES TO ENSURE PROPER AND EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF WHALE STOCKS. IT ESTABLISHED THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION (IWC) WHICH MEETS ANNUALLY TO ADMINISTER REGULATIONS ON CATCH QUOTAS, PROTECTED SPECIES, WHALING METHODS ETC. STIPULATED IN THE SCHEDULE (ARTICLES III TO V). THE UNITED KINGDOM RATIFIED THE CONVENTION ON 17 JUNE 1947. THE RATIFICATION INCLUDED HONG KONG. (REFERENCE AT ANNEX B).
2. A PROTOCOL TO THE 1946 CONVENTION (THE 'PROTOCOL') WAS ADOPTED IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON 19 NOVEMBER 1956 (TEXT AT ANNEX C). THIS EXTENDED THE APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION TO WHALING FROM THE AIR. THE UNITED KINGDOM RATIFIED THE PROTOCOL ON 23 MAY 1957. THE RATIFICATION INCLUDED HONG KONG (REFERENCE AT ANNEX D).
BENEFITS
3. THE CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL ESTABLISH THE IWC AND PRESCRIBE CONTROLS ON WHALING. ALTHOUGH THE HONG KONG FISHING FLEET HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN WHALE FISHERIES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG'S ENVIROMENTAL CREDENTIALS THAT IT REMAIN ASSOCIATED.
PROPOSAL
4. STANDARD PARAGRAPH.
ENDS
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