TNAG-1955-FCO40-2784-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 71

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RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2399

OF 18154OZ JULY 89

RESTRICTED

Mr

Новодо

207

regly zos

pl. check that MAED

will handle his. HKCISI/1

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

6147°

OUR TELNO 2139 HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE

180

131640 MDHIAN 3593

Yes MAED

will liaise

M

18/7 with

DOE

AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE BOTSWANA MEETING OF THE AFRICAN

ELEPHANT WORKING GROUP FAILED TO REACH A FIRM DECISION AND INSTEAD

(A)

APPOINTED A COORDINATOR TO LIAISE AMONG RANGE STATES TO PRODUCE A CONCENSUS RESOLUTION ON THE POSSIBILITY OF SELECTIVE UPGRADING (I.E. BY COUNTRY) OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT TO APPENDIX I AND STRENGTHENING IVORY TRADE CONTROL MEASURES: AND

(B) DELEGATED TO THE CITES SECRETARIAT THE TASK OF DRAFTING A RESOLUTION AIMED AT PROVIDING FOR CONTINUING TRADE IN EXISTING

LEGALLY OBTAINED STOCKS OF IVORY.

2.

BOTH THESE STEPS RECOGNISE THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE TO BE SOME LEVEL OF TRADE IN IVORY. THIS IS HELPFUL IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR PROBLEM OF STOCKS. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR DOE'S SUPPORT FOR HK'S POSITION IN ACHIEVING THIS. IT IS, OF COURSE, BY NO MEANS CERTAIN THAT THE OCTOBER MEETING OF THE CITES PARTIES WILL ENDORSE WHATEVER TRANSPIRES FROM 1(A) AND 1(B) ABOVE.

3=

WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE LINE WE SHOULD TAKE UNDER THREE

SCENARIOS:-

(A) THAT ELEPHANTS IN EAST AFRICAN STATES WILL BE LISTED UNDER APPENDIX I: THAT ELEPHANTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN STATES WILL REMAIN IN APPENDIX II: THAT TRADE IN EXISTING STOCKS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED: AND THAT FAR MORE RIGID CONTROLS OVER STOCKS WILL BE RE-

QUIRED:

(B) THAT ALL AFRICAN ELEPHANTS WILL BE LISTED UNDER APPENDIX I AND TRADE WILL BE ALLOWED IN EXISTING STOCKS: AND

(C) THAT ALL AFRICAN ELEPHANTS WILL BE LISTED UNDER APPENDIX I AND NO TRADE WILL BE ALLOWED EVEN IN EXISTING STOCKS.

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