CONFIDENTIAL
121194 MDHOAN 88.5
CONVENTION.
3=
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, AND THE RATIFICATION COVERED HONG KONG.
BENEFITS
4. ALTHOUGH THERE EXIST A NUMBER OF CONVENTIONS WHICH COVER THE PROBLEM OF CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS (EG CITES, BONN CONVENTION) THE IWC REMAINS THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL FORUM STRONG ENOUGH TO ADDRESS ITSELF SPECIFICALLY TO THE PROBLEM OF THE CONSERVATION OF WHALES. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL WHALING FROM THE 1985/86 HUNTING SEASON DEMONSTRATED THAT THE IWC IS CAPABLE OF TAKING THE NECESSARY ACTION TO ENSURE THAT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST ARE NOT REPEATED. THE WORK CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE IWC TO DECIDE ON WHETHER THE MORATORIUM SHOULD BE LIFTED, AND IF SO ON WHAT CONDITIONS, IS VITAL IF WE ARE TO CONSERVE WHALES. THE SCIENTIFIC WORK CONDUCTED BY THE IWC ON WHALES AND ON THE SMALLER CETACEANS (DESPITE CONTINUING DIFFERENCES OF OP1NION OVER THE COMPETENCE OF THE IWC IN THIS RESPECT) IS ALSO IMPORTANT. THE HONG KONG FISHING FLEET HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN WHALE FISHERIES BUT IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS THAT IT REMAIN ASSOCIATED.
PROPOSAL
STANDARD PARAGRAPH.
5.
ENDS
HURD
YYYY
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