TNAG-1955-FCO40-2784-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 107

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162

107035 MDHIAN 2627

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FM GABORONE

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 178

OF 07083OZ JULY 89

INFO ROUTINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 10 JUL

DOE LONDON PSE PASS TO BUNCE, DOE BRISTOL

FOR MAED FROM FOLLAND, DOE

HKC151/1

YOUR TELNO 126 : AFRICAN ELEPHANT WORKING GROUP

1. DIVISION BETWEEN EAST AFRICAN STATES, PROPONENTS OF APPENDIX 1 LISTING AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN RANGE STATES, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA, ONLY PARTIALLY BRIDGED IN LAST PLENARY

SESSION OF AEWG 7 JULY.

2. SA RANGE STATES WILL NOT OPPOSE APPENDIX 1 LISTING IF THEIR

POPULATIONS ARE EXCLUDED. THEY MAY CONSIDER A MORATORIUM ON TRADE

UNTIL LAUSANNE IN OCTOBER, BUT THIS IS NOT CLEAR. HOPEFUL THAT AGREED AFRICAN POSITION CAN BE REACHED BEFORE LAUSANNE MEETING.

GROUP ADOPTED PROPOSAL THAT CAMEROON SHOULD ACT AS A GO-BETWEEN, WITH CITES SECRETARIAT ASSISTANCE, TO REACH ACCOMMODATION WITH ALL RANGE STATES. TERMS OF REFERENCE TO BE AGREED IN PLENARY 8

JULY.

3=

IN RESTRICTED SESSIONS SOUTHERN AFRICAN STATES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING JOINT CONTROL MEASURES AIMED AT ELIMINATING ILLEGAL TRADE. DESPITE PRESSURE FROM UK SUPPORTED BY US IN PLENARY, THESE WERE NOT MADE PUBLIC BECAUSE DELEGATIONS DID NOT HAVE GOVERNMENTAL

AUTHORITY. FROM CORRIDOR GOSSIP I UNDERSTAND MEASURES MAY INCLUDE PROVISION FOR CENTRAL AUCTION, EXPORT QUOTAS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISPOSAL OF CONFISCATED IVORY. IMPLICATIONS ARE, NOTWITHSTANDING LAUSANNE DECISIONS, THAT LIMITED TRADE IN IVORY WILL CONTINUE.

4. HONG KONG CONCERN ON DISPOSAL OF PRESENT STOCKS WAS WELL AIRED

IN PLENARY AND IN THE MARGINS. THERE WAS SOME SYMPATHY FOR THIS

CONCERN. POSSIBLE SOLUTION MAY LIE WITH RESOLUTION TO BE

DRAFTED BY SECRETARIAT. A HOSTILE REACTION CAN BE EXPECTED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY BUT NOT SO FROM WORLD

WILDLIFE FUND.

5. WILL DISCUSS FURTHER IN LONDON ON WEDNESDAY 12 JULY.

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