TNAG-0468-FCO40-533-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 45

GR 230

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIALAST

RECEIVED IN

REF

NEXT

REGISTRY No. 52

REF.

- 6 FEB 1974

FM PEKING 050835Z

CONFIDENTIAL

INCKY

대기

1974

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 79 OF 5 FEBRUARY/REPEATED FOR INFORMATION PRIORITY TO HONG KONG.

FCO TELNO 124 OF 1 FEBRUARY: IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE FROM CHINA.

1.

THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE RECENTLY GIVEN SOME PUBLICITY TO THE NEED TO PROTECT AND MAKE RATIONAL USE OF THEIR RARE WILD ANIMAL RESOURCES. THIS WAS SHOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A RECENT PROVINCIAL BROADCAST FROM SZECHUAN REPORTING EFFORTS IN THAT PROVINCE TO IMPROVE PROTECTION OF THE PANDA, THE GOLD FUR MONKEY

AND THE SPOTTED DEER.

2.

THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO APPROACH THE CHINESE (YOUR PARA 5) WITHOUT CAUSING TOO MUCH OFFENCE.

BUT AS HONG KONG HAVE POINTED OUT WE SHALL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT

TO APPEAR TO LECTURE THE CHINESE, WE WOULD PROBABLY DO BEST

(A) TO EXPLAIN FRANKLY THAT HMG IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE THREAT TO0 CERTAIN SPECIES

3.

(B) TO SAY THAT WE REALISE THE CHINESE ALSO TAKE THIS QUESTION

SERIOUSLY. WE WOULD ASK FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THEY DO

NOT CONSIDER THAT THE TRADE THREATENS THE SURVIVAL OF ANY

SPECIES

(C) TO OFFER THE COOPERATION OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES IN

GENERAL TERMS.

WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OFF DIRECT DISCUSSION OF THE CONVENTION. BUT WE WOULD REQUIRE DETAILED BRIEFING ON THE PRESENT TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG AS REGARDS THE SPECIES IN ... SCHEDULE TWO. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A COPY OF THE CONVENTION

AND ANY OTHER BACKGROUND MATERIAL.

MORGAN

FILE S: HKIOD . FED

SIR D. WATSON

MR. WILFORD MR. YOUDE

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON ST. LONDON

STD

LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL

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