TNAG-1955-FCO40-2784-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 123

African

The

elephant from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES.

Vernment appreciates, however, that this a complex matter which

involves many difficult issues such as the fate of existing legal

stocks of ivory,

Conference of the

listen carefully

discussions.

These issues will be discussed at the next

Parties to CITES in October,

The UK will

part 3.m

to all the arguments and play a full

representatives of the Hong Kong ivory trade

attending the meeting of the African

Im

the meantime,

will, I understand,

be

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

opportunity to arque 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,

18

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

term strategy for its future survival,

long

which is a matter for the

Conference, is worked out.

I hope that you will find the above information helpful