TNAG-0634-FCO40-782-Violation-of-legislation-for-protection-of-endangered-specie-1977 — Page 56

Mr David,

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CONSERVATION MATTERS : HONG KONG

1. I admit to a certain uneasiness after having read the corres- pondence between Mr Platt (ICFA) and Miss Tsu, attached to your letter of 31 January. While it may be admissible to dismiss letters from conservationist cranks, from my reading of the correspondence Miss Tsu does not seem to fall within this category. Indeed, her letters are both informed and well written and it may be that her attack on Hong Kong's conservation legislation may be inspired by one of the UK conservation ist bodies. You are already aware that fir Burton of the Fauna Preservation Society was highly critical of Hong Kong's implementation of its present conservation legislation and that he had serious doubts as to whether it would fulfil the provisions of the Washington Convention on Endangered Species (my minute of 23 September 1976 refers).

2.

We have already had Parliamentary questions on Hong Kong, in the context of the Washington Convention, and while these have not proved difficult, Miss Tsu's letters, and more important lack of satisfaction on the replies, could well prove to be valuable ammunition for the conservation ists to use in putting forward inspired questions in the House, here. From my reading of the correspondence, it would be very difficult to answer any question as to why the UK was doing nothing to ensure Hong Kong's implementation of the provisions of the Washington Convention. There has already been a flood of letters from the public over the last year on the slaughter of song birds in Italy and while not wishing to be alarmist the treatment of birds un route from mainland China to Hong Kong could give rise to similarapublic

outcry.

3.

I have little doubt that the relevant conservationist bodies in this country will be aware of Miss Tsu's approach to the author- ities in Hong Kong; indeed some of her letters have been copied to IUCN who provide the Secretariat to the Washington Convention. More-

over, Mr Burton is also the Chairman of IUCN traffic group.

to

4. We have had some success in persuading conservationists play down Hong Kong's conservation "faults" until they have had a chance to introduce the necessary mechanisms in order to implement the provisions of the Convention. It may be that,

they are gathering the necessary material to begin an anti- Hong Kong campaign in this country. While co servationists have little support in the House of Commons, they do have a fair number of Lords who support their movement and certainly the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) has a large public following.

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