TNAG-1954-FCO40-2783-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 162

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 provisions 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 been reviewing the position in the light of growing evidence of the decline of elephant populations. My Noble Friend Lord Caithness has just returned from official business in Kenya where he took the opportunity to see for himself the extent of the problem of ivory poaching and to discuss the issue with representatives of the Kenya Government including Mr Richard Leakey who has just been appointed to take charge of conservation matters there. 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 will be calling for concerted European support for such a ban at the next meeting of the Council of Environment Ministers in June.

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