TNAG-1953-FCO40-2782-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 110

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 809

OF 08090OZ MARCH 89

17

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HKCISII

Spur

YOUR TELNO 407: IMPORT OF KILLER WHALE FROM JAPAN

FOR MORRIS, HKD

31

012573

MDHIAN 5754

TOP COPY

C

WE HAVE WEIGHED THE VARIOUS FACTORS INVOLVED AND HAVE DECIDED TO GRANT AN IMPORT LICENCE TO OCEAN PARK. WE ARE PERSUADED THAT THE ARGUMENTS FOR GRANTING A LICENCE

(A) OCEAN PARK'S CLAIM THAT THE WHALE IS INTENDED FOR CONSERVATION, BREEDING AND EDUCATION PURPOSES IS CONSISTENT WITH ITS TRACK RECORD:

(B) THE IMPORT OF A WHALE DOES NOT OFFEND AGAINST THE RELEVANT

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION:

(C) THE WHALE IS ALREADY IN CAPTIVITY: AND

(D) THE WELFARE OF THE TWO ANIMALS IN QUESTION WOULD BE BETTER SERVED

IF THE SECOND KILLER WHALE IS IMPORTED TO JOIN THE EXISTING ONE AT OCEAN PARK,

ARE BOTH COMPELLING AND DEFENSIBLE. OCEAN PARK WILL NOT GIVE PUBLICITY TO THE CASE UNTIL AFTER THE WHALE HAS BEEN IMPORTED. WE WILL BE READY TO DEAL WITH SUCH CRITICISM AS MAY ARISE AT THAT TIME.

WILSON

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DISTRIBUTION

22

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21

MINIMAL HKD

ADDITIONAL

Miss DOE,

DOE BRISTOL

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