TNAG-1955-FCO40-2784-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 119

CITES.

with

The

recently and took the opportunity to discuss the situation

Wldlife experts there. As a result, he announced on 23 May the

Government's view that there was now Ä case for transferring the

African elephant from Appendix II to Appendix I of

Government appreciates, however, that this a complex matter which

involves many difficult issues such as the fate of existing legal

These issues will be discussed at the next

The UK will

to all the arguments and play a full Part in

stocks of ivory,

Conference

listen

of the

Parties to CITES in October,

carefully

discussions.

representatives of the Hong Kong ivory trade

attending the meeting of the African

In the meantime,

will, I understand,

be

Elephant Working Group in Botswana from 4-7 July and will have an

opportunity to

argue their case there.

The Conference of the

Parties will doubtless give careful consideration to the results

of this meeting and to the views expressed there by trading

interests.

is

Turning to the recent ban on the import Of ivory into the

European Community, the Government believes that this measure

necessary to minimise the threat to the elephant, whilst a long

term strategy for its future survival, which is a matter for the

Conference, is worked out.

I hope that you will find the above information helpful

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