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HKC C31/5
110401
MDLOAN 7149
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FM FCO
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELNO 201
OF 121230Z FEBRUARY 92
ps.
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
Tom COPY
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91/HKC 031/9 (8
OUR TELNO 885 OF 9 MAY 1991: IRO SUB-GROUP: MULTILATERAL TREATIES: CONSERVATION: INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING (1946) AND ITS PROTOCOL
1. FURTHER TO PARA 3 OF TUR, RAD HAVE CONSULTED FILES FROM 1945-1955 ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE WHALING CONVENTION AND ITS PROTOCOL APPLY TO DTS, INCLUDING HONG KONG.
2.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A STATEMENT OR DOCUMEN CONFIRMING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL TO HONG KONG, WE HAVE DISCOVERED TWO MORE INDICATIONS THAT RATIFICATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND' INCLUDED THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES:
A) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COLONIAL OFFICE WAS INCLUDED IN THE UK DELEGATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING CONFERENCE HELD IN WASHINGTON FROM 20 NOVEMBER TO 2 DECEMBER 1946.
B) THERE IS A LETTER OF 21 OCTOBER 1954 FROM THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE, ENCLOSING A MEMORANDUM REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE WHALING CONVENTION. A SIMILAR LETTER WAS SENT TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE, AMONG OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE COLONIAL OFFICE REPLIED ON 27 OCTOBER 1954 THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES HAD NO OBJECTION TO THE AMENDMENTS (COPIES BY BAG TO PA'S OFFICE).
3.
THESE POINTS IMPLY THAT THE CONVENTION APPLIED TO THOSE TERRITORIES FOR WHICH THE COLONIAL OFFICE HAD RESPONSIBILITY. ALTHOUGH THESE POINTS DO NOT GIVE DEFINITIVE CONFIRMATION, THEY ADD WEIGHT TO THE VIEW THAT THE CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL VERY PROBABLY DO APPLY TO HONG KONG.
HURD
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