TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 154

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British High Commission

PO Box 1812 Wellington New Zealand

Telegraphic Address Ukrep Telex NZ 3325

Telephone Wellington 726-049

Miss T Abbott-Watt

MAED

FCO

MRE 26414

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

28 JAN 1988

LIDLA

PEGISTRY

Action Taken

Your reference

Our reference

P261/1

Date

19 January 1988

Dear Thorda,

"FRAGMENTS OF PARADISE": CONSERVATION IN THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS

1.

MRE 264/6 (13) (8)

The Governor has asked me to reply to your circular letter of 27 November.

2. The section of the BANC's report dealing with the Pitcairn Islands is factual and presents no difficulties. The first of the two recommendations on page 154, that HMG should ensure the permanent conservation of Henderson Island as a World Heritage Site, has, as far as we know, been overtaken; HMG, in concert with the Nature Conservancy Council, were to have put forward Henderson's nomination for the World Heritage List by the end of 1987 (correspondence resting with our telno 436 of 2 October 1987). The second recommendation, that HMG should encourage a scientific expedition to Henderson, is in the Governor's view gratuitous. We would not wish to discourage a reputable and properly organised expedition, but see no need to press for one.

3. The general recommendations of the report (pp61-62) are more problematic. The Governor has commented that they are not really appropriate for small islands like Pitcairn, with its population of 50-odd and very limited administrative and financial resources, let alone for remote and uninhabited islands like Henderson. It is Henderson's remoteness which is its best protection it is some 110 miles from Pitcairn, and is visited by the islanders at most once a year in their open boats.

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