TNAG-1955-FCO40-2784-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 154

UNCLASSIFIED

1

05

46

MDLOAN

15

AT LEAST 1990, WHEN IT WILL BE REVIEWED. SINCE 1986 JAPAN, NORWAY AND ICELAND HAVE EACH COME FORWARD WITH PLANS TO CONTINUE TAKING WHALES, OSTENSIBLY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PURPOSES. MEMBERS OF THE IWC, INCLUDING THE UK, ARE OPPOSED TO THESE PLANS. HOWEVER, DESPITE THIS OPPOSITION AND THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE IWC SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED WILL GO AHEAD.

SEALS

11.

+

FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME THERE HAS BEEN STRONG OPPOSITION IN THE UK TO THE KILLING OF BABY SEALS. THE ISSUE WAS HIGHLIGHTED ONCE AGAIN IN A TELEVISION PROGRAMME SHOWN ON CHANNEL 4 IN FEBRUARY. THIS PROGRAMME LED TO THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT IMPOSING A 12 MONTH BAN ON SEAL HUNTING, FROM 13 MARCH 1989.

12. IN 1983 THE EC IMPOSED A BAN ON THE IMPORT OF PUP SKINS AND PRODUCTS OF HARP AND HOODED SEALS (NOT CONTROLLED UNDER CITES). THE UK HAS LONG HELD THE VIEW THAT THE EC BAN SHOULD BE EXTENDED INDEFINITELY AND THIS WAS AGREED BY THE EC ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL ON 8-9 JUNE. THE BAN DOES NOT APPLY TO PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM TRADITIONAL HUNTING BY NATIVE PEOPLES. THE TWO COUNTRIES MOST OPPOSED TO THIS BAN ARE NORWAY AND CANADA.

13.

THE ENDANGERED SPECIES BRANCH OF THE WILDLIFE DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UK IMPLEMENTATION OF CITES. ENQUIRIES ABOUT SPECIES LISTED UNDER CITES, IMPORT LICENCES, OR PERSONAL IMPORTS OF PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES, SHOULD BE SENT DIRECT TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES BRANCH OF DOE AT:

TOLLGATE HOUSE

BRISTOL BS2 9DJ

TEL: 0272-218811

TELEX: 449321

14.

THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE WITHIN THE FCO IS MAED.

LIST OF SIGNATORIES OF THE CONVENTION FOLLOWS IN PART TWO.

HOWE

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