TNAG-1954-FCO40-2783-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 121

Letter

In Confidence

Confidential

Minute

Restricted

Secret

For Signature by.

Ext.

Return to Room No.

Draft by.

DRAFT

Further Action and Special Instructions (e.g. Envelope size, Addressed Label, Enclosures, Type of Paper).

File No.

Fax Ext.

Your Ref.

Copies To:

*

TO:

* List separately if more than one copy recipient.

SUBJECT:

AFRICAN ELEPHANTS

Thank you for your letter of 16 May enclosing one from

your constituent Mr C.R. Wilson of Newmarket about

African elephants.

The British Government is very concerned about the

plight of the African elephant. On 23 May, Lord

Caithness, the Minister of State for the Environment,

reiterated this concern and expressed the Government's

view that there is now a case for banning all trade in

new ivory at the earliest practical opportunity.

Effective international action can, however, only be

secured through the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), of

which Britain is a strong supporter.

Recommendations

will be discussed at the next CITES conference in

October.

In the meantime, the Government will propose

to other EEC countries that the import of all raw and

worked ivory into the European Community should be