TNAG-0532-FCO40-627-Conservation-of-wildlife-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 13

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CODE 18.77

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Mr M

Mixton

CONVENTION OF WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE:

HONG KONG

1. Science and Technology Department have asked for our comments

They on the attached draft letter to the Governor of Hong Kong. have suggested, and I have agreed, that the letter should issue

from IKIOD.

2. The extension of this treaty to Hong Kong would be straightforward except that once Hong Kong is included in the Convention there is the possibility that they could come under pressure to designate the area known as the Mai Po Marshes as a wetland area. (For background on this see my minute of 12 May and Mr O'Keeffe's submission of 11 June). We telegraphed Hong Kong pointing out the difficulties that could arise over this issue (our tels nos .439 and 440) and the Governor replied on 17 June. Mr O'Keeffe wrote back to the Governor on 3 July saying that we would resist any suggestion that the Marshes should be designated as a wetland.

3.

The DOE have now been consulted about this problem and the draft reply to Hong Kong is based on their reply. This seems to me

that they to provide the assurances that the Governor was seeking would not be put under pressure to designate the Mai Po Marshes as a wetland area. Otherwise I have no comments on the draft. have said that they need the reply at the very latest by 18 December so we should aim to get this letter off as soon as possible.

An Wallon.

A L Wotton

STD

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Dept K 245

233 5179

Max. Witton

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