TNAG-1955-FCO40-2784-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 140

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6.28.1989 16:53

African elephant from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES. The

Government appreciates, however, that this a complex matter which

involves many difficult issues such as the fate of existing legal

stocks of ivory. These issues will be discussed at the next

Conference of the Parties to CITES in October, The UK will

listen carefully to all the arguments and play a full Bart

discussione.

In the meantime,

representatives of the Hong Kong ivory trade

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 wi11 doubtless give careful consideration to the resulte

of this meeting and to the views expressed there by trading

attending the meeting of the African

intereste.

I read with interest your proposal for a moratorium on trade

new ivory ta allow stocks of ivory from natural wastage

elephants to build up. We shall bear this proposal in mind as

prepare for the Conference,

Turning to the recent ban on the import of ivory into

European Community, the Government believes that this measure

necessary to minimise the threat to the elephant,

in

of

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the

16

whilst a lond

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

Conference, i werked out

The Severnment

is aware of the loss of businemd and effect

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traders in Flong Kong that a long term ban on the ivory trade

would have.

Trade in

endangered

species in Hong Kong 19,

P. 2