TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 106

XCRI(89)29

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In order to achieve these objectives we are

atttending the CITES Conference as part of the UK delegation (since Hong Kong is not a separate member of CITES) and seeking the UK's firm support;

considering, in conjunction with the CITES

additional steps might

Secretariat taken; and

what

>

be

lobbying governments and conservation bodies in Japan, Europe, the USA and Canada, through visits by the Director of Agriculture & Fisheries, through the Hong Kong Government overseas offices and through consular channels in Hong Kong. (Feedback SO far seems quite positive.

and conservationists in UK, USA and Canada now appear to be more sympathetic to Hong Kong's case).

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Officials

Should our lobbying and other efforts fail to achieve the desired objective at CITES i.e. the continued trade in existing legally-acquired stocks of ivory, we may have to ask the UK to enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong in respect of any resolution to upgrade the African elephant to Appendix I. This reservation would be aimed at providing continued trade in existing ivory stocks in Hong Kong whilst ensuring that adequate controls were put in place so that new ivory could not enter the market.

FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPLICATIONS

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Should we achieve our objectives, Director of Agriculture and Fisheries will require additional enforcement staff. Provision for this will be sought in the normal way. The Director' s overseas visits will be financed from existing resources. However, should we fail to secure our objectives, there may be claims for compensation from the ivory traders and carvers. Since the barriers to trade are not created by the Hong Kong Government, it is unlikely that there will be any legitimate claim on us.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

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Local

consultation

has

taken

representatives of ivory traders and carvers

>

place and

with with the

will be

World Wide Fund for Nature. Our line has been generally

There

no is, however,

we guarantee that agreed. successful. It is important that we do our best to achieve our commercial objectives and help preserve the species.

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