TNAG-0532-FCO40-627-Conservation-of-wildlife-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 15

CODE 18-77

COVERING CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Aust (Legal Advisers K 157A) Ś

Ken.c

away.

CONVENTION ON WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE: INCLUSION OF HONG KONG

1. We spoke.

2. I attach a letter from Hong Kong (Folio 4) which expresses a general willingness for Hong Kong to be included, but an unwillingness to designate the Mai Po Marshes as a wetlands area of international importance.

3. If Hong Kong were to be included and implement the Convention, there would be no obligation under the Convention to designate the area (since the UK has already designated sufficient domestic wetlands), but there would be strong pressure from conservationists both in Hong Kong and in the UK for such action. This is reflected in the attached lobbying letter from a Hong Kong conservationist, and in its circulation.

4.

As you know, we have agreed with DOE to try and secure Hong Kong's inclusion. I attach the DOE letter (Folio 78) I believe on which our draft reply to Hong Kong is based. that the existing measures in Hong Kong, as described in paragraph 3 of Folio 47, are sufficient for implementation of the general requirements of the Convention, if Hong Kong does not designate any wetlands of its own.

5. I should be grateful for any comments you may have on the attached draft reply, which suggests that there is no need for the marshes to be designated and that an official statement in conjunction with Hong Kong's inclusion, would forestall the criticisms and pressures of the Conservationists.

1 December 1975

Enc

Angela Sampson.

A J Sampson (Miss)

Science and Technology Department

(E 012 233 5928)

with the draft; erupt that Sannat find

Скиря

Jagun

hi the

Convention any

power to extend to

depen

dent

• you day

раса.

in para. 5.

All-Jean

26

fenitais at a later date, as

find is the power, in Afticle 215) to designate additional

wetlands.

Eiben hozz витья

COVERING CONFIDENTIAL

5′′

mber 1975.

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