TNAG-0470-FCO40-535-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 31

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SAVING TELEGRAM

BY BAG

FM FCO

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199

TO HONG KONG TELNO 79 SAVING OF 25 NOVEMBER 1974 INFO SAVING TO PEKING

WASHINGTON CONVENTION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

OF WILD FLORA AND FAUNA

1.

TO BELMOPAN

Hong Kong should by now have received Savingram 24/of 19 November concerned with this Convention (now being copied to Peking for information). In view of the special problems confronting Hong Kong in this context, and bearing in mind that

Taiwan is a signatory of the Washington Convention, we should be

grateful for views on certain additional points.

2.

It seems to us possible that the Chinese view of what is

or is not an endangered species would not always coincide with the Convention's interpretation. In particular, the Chinese Government would presumably be unwilling to provide the export licences required under the Convention, despite the fact that her

line on conservation,, albeit independent, is not unhelpful. We

would be grateful if you would consider these points and whether

they would present insurmountable difficulties in the way of your

fulfilling the terms of the Convention, which we would hope could be extended in full to Hong Kong.

3.

Failing this, we must consider alternative ways of

achieving the same results. We understand you already have a

total ban on the import of Appendix 1 species, which goes beyond the requirements of the Convention. Would it be possible to enact legislation covering the remaining schedules which would enable us, and you, to show that the substantive requirements of the Convention were met, even if the Convention itself could not be

applied?

4.

We would also be grateful for advice from Peking on the

Chinese dimension to this Hong Kong problem.

FILES

HKIOD (4)

STD

FED

COPIES TO

MRS WINCHESTER DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT

GIB & GEN D

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