TNAG-1953-FCO40-2782-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 88

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 20010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1083

OF 1913OOZ MAY 89

RESTRICTED

HKC IS1|1

AND TO DESKBY 22053OZ DAR ES SALAAM

AND TO DESKBY 19150OZ WASHINGTON

INFO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS, NAIROBI, KAMPALA

42

110717 MDHOAN 1553

MIPT REFERS

DOE: DRAFT STATEMENT

1.

THE GOVERNMENT SHARES THE CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. WE ALREADY STRICTLY IMPLEMENT CONTROLS ON THE IMPORT OF AFRICAN IVORY UNDER THE PROVISONS OF

THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES). THESE CONTROLS INCLUDE THE SCRUPULOUS CHECKING OF DOCUMENTATION TO ENSURE THAT ONLY IVORY THAT HAS BEEN OBTAINED LEGALLY ENTERS THE COUNTRY.

2.. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE POSITION IN THE LIGHT OF GROWING EVIDENCE OF THE DECLINE OF ELEPHANT POPULATIONS. WE HAVE ALSO

TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE ILLEGAL TRADE IN POACHED IVORY. WE NOW

BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CLEAR CASE FOR BANNING ALL TRADE IN NEW

ELEPHANT TUSKS AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICAL OPPORTUNITY. EFFECTIVE

ACTION CAN ONLY BE TAKEN INTERNATIONALLY AND THE FIRST

OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE THAT ACTION WILL BE THE CITES CONFERENCE IN

OCTOBER. MY NOBLE FRIEND LORD CAITHNESS WILL BE CALLING FOR CONCERTED EUROPEAN SUPPORT FOR SUCH A BAN AT THE NEXT MEETING OF

THE COUNCIL OF ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS IN JUNE.

3. CONCERN HAS ALSO BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT TRADE IN ILLEGAL IVORY

PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE

INFORMED US THAT, FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION IN

AUGUST 1988 THEY NOW PROHIBIT THE IMPORT OF IVORY IN ALL ITS

FORMS EXCEPT FROM A CITES APPROVED SOURCE AND SUBJECT TO THE

ISSUE OF A LICENCE.

HOWE

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