TNAG-1953-FCO40-2782-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 90

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 20010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1082

OF 1913OOZ MAY 89

RESTRICTED

HKCISI/1

AND TO DESKBY 22053OZ DAR ES SALAAM

AND TO DESKBY 1915OOZ WASHINGTON

INFO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS, NAIROBI, KAMPALA

41

110625 MDHOAN 1551

ELEPHANT POACHING AND IVORY SMUGGLING

1. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAS DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD NOW ALTER OUR POSITION ON THE IVORY TRADE AND SUPPORT A COMPLETE BAN ON ALL TRADE IN NEW ELEPHANT TUSKS AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICAL OPPORTUNITY. THE DOE INTEND MAKING PUBLIC THIS CHANGE IN POLICY

ON 23 MAY AND A DRAFT STATEMENT WHICH MAY BE USED IS IN MIFT.

2.

YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO CONSIDER YOUR OWN POSITION IN THE

LIGHT OF THE CHANGE IN HMG'S POLICY AND WHETHER YOU ARE CONTENT

WITH THE WORDING ON HONG KONG IN MIFT.

3.

(FOR WASHINGTON AND DAR ES SALAAM). DOE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR

HOST GOVERNMENTS HAVE CHANGED THEIR POLICY RECENTLY IN THE WAY

THAT WE NOW PROPOSE. PLEASE SEEK CONFIRMATION BUT DO NOT

INDICATE THAT ANY FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON POSITION.

GRATEFUL FOR REPLIES BY 2213OOZ.

HMG'S

4.

HOWE

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

66

DISTRIBUTION

66

MAED

HKD

NEWS

ECD (I)

PAGE

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/PUS

PS/SIR J FRETWELL

MR BAYNE

MR SLATER

1

RESTRICTED

Page 90Page 91