TNAG-0470-FCO40-535-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 32

BY BAG

FM F C O

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

SAVING TELEGRAM

in wolk b see

(198

TO BELMOPAN TELNO 23 SAVING OF 19 NOVEMBER 1974 AND SAVING TO

HAMILTON, HONAIRA, TORTOLA, GRAND CAYMAN, PORT STANLEY, GIBRALTAR, TARAWA, HONG KONG, MONTSERRAT, PITCAIRN, ST HELENA, SEYCHELLES,

GRAND TURK, ASCENSION ISLAND, TRISTAN DA CUNHA AND VILA.

WASHINGTON CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

OF WILD FLORA AND FAUNA.

1. A DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN WASHINGTON IN 1973 ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) TO DRAW UP A CONVENTION TO REGULATE INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN

WILD ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES WHOSE SURVIVAL IS ENDANGERED. THE

SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS OF THIS CONVENTION ARE INTENDED, BY MEANS

OF TRADE CONTROLS, TO REDUCE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THE THREAT TO ENDANGERED

SPECIES AND TO HELP COUNTRIES WHERE SUCH SPECIES ARE FOUND TO ENFORCE

THEIR OWN DOMESTIC WILD LIFE PROTECTION LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THE

UNITED KINGDOM SIGNED THE CONVENTION AT THE CLOSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC

CONFERENCE ON 3 MARCH 1973. A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES HAVE

NOW SIGNED THE CONVENTION AND SO FAR FIVE HAVE RATIFIED IT. A COPY

OF THE CONVENTION TEXT (CMND 5459) HAS BEEN SENT UNDER SEPARATE

COVER.

2. AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE, THE ISSUE OF NATURE CONSERVATION AND THE

PROTECTION OF THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IS A MATTER OF

CONSIDERABLE CONCERN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WE ARE UNDER VERY

SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURE TO PROCEDE RAPIDLY TO

RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION. THE EXISTING UNITED KINGDOM LEGIS-

LATION WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE US TO DO SO BUT THE EXISTING

POWERS ARE FRAGMENTED AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF PRESSURES FROM

CONSERVATIONISTS, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE A BILL, WHICH WILL BE TAILORED TO MEET THE CONVENTION'S REQUIREMENTS,

EARLY IN THIS SESSION.

3. THERE WAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AT THE TIME OF NEGOTIATION OF

THE CONVENTION THAT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE IT SHOULD BE

EXTENDED TO APPLY IN ALL TERRITORIES FOR WHICH CONTRACTING PARTIES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY. UNFORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, THE CONFERENCE WAS

RESTRICTED

/NOT