TNAG-0532-FCO40-627-Conservation-of-wildlife-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 32

GR150

CYPHER/CAT A

FM FCO #21735Z

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TEL NO 439 OF 2 JUNE. NKCY/6

MELLON'S LETTER OF 22 MAY TO THE GOVERNOR: CONVENTION ON WETLANDS

OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

1. IN CONSIDERING THE EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION TO HONG KONG YOU

WILL NO DOUBT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT POSSIBLE PROBLEMS OVER THE MAI PO MARSHES. THIS ISSUE HAS RECENTLY AROUSED INTEREST IN THE UK (YOUR TEL NO 351 OF 12 APRIL REFERS).

2. IF HONG KONG IS INCLUDED IN THE UK RATIFICATION, THERE WILL

PRESUMABLY BE SOME PRESSURE ON YOU TO DESIGNATE THE MAI PO MARSIES AS A WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE (PARAGRAPII 6 OF MY TEL UNDER REFERENCE), NO DOUBT THIS WOULD STRENGTHEN THE HAND

OF THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO ARE CALLING FOR A PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO

THE BUILDING OF A HOUSING ESTATE NEXT TO THE MARSHES. IF IT WAS DECIDED TO DESIGNATE THE MARSHES, THERE WOULD THEN BE A COMMITMENT UNDER ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONVENTION TO REPORT ANY CHANGES IN THE

ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF THE MARSHES RESULTING FROM TECHNOLOGICAL

DEVELOPMENTS, POLLUTION OR OTHER HUMAN INTERFERENCE.

3. WE WOULD HOPE, HOWEVER, THAT DESPITE THIS YOU WILL AGREE TO HONG KONG BEING INCLUDED IN THE UK RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION.

CALLLAGHAN

FILES

HKIOD

SYD

SiR-3D. MAITLAND

RESTRICTED

LAR

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