TNAG-1954-FCO40-2783-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 94

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

ELAND HOUSE

STAG PLACE LONDON SWIE 5DH

Telephone 2XXXXX 01-273 0409

From the Minister

Sir Eldon Griffiths MP

House of Commons

LONDON SW1A OAA

9 June 1989

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Jar Ellor

Thank you for your letter of 16 May enclosing one 'from your constituent Mr C.R. Wilson of 9 Norfolk Avenue, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 ODE 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 other EEC countries strongly supported proposals made by the UK at the recent EC Environment Council that the import of all raw and worked ivory into the European Community should be banned immediately while a long-term strategy for conserving the African elephant is formulated. The European Commission is now to bring forward a formal proposal. Pending adoption of this member states have been urged to take their own measures. The UK will bring in an immediate ban.

There is also much concern about the role of Hong Kong in the ivory trade. The Hong Kong Government take very seriously their responsibilities as a party to CITES, and has always complied fully with the provisions of the Convention. Hong Kong has strict legislative controls on the import of ivory. On 9 June, the Hong Kong Government announced that it would support the introduction of a ban on trade in new ivory by the upgrading of the African elephant to CITES Appendix 1 status.

The United Kingdom has long been providing help to Kenya for conservation under the aid programme. At present we are funding three expatriate staff (one wildlife adviser and two game wardens), who have worked in the Kenyan Wildlife Department for many years. One of the game wardens acts as the co-ordinator of the Kenya Rhino Rescue Project. 19 British Army Bedford

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