TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 118

11

Minister for Hobelny

1)cc Minister

11) Mr Hughes MAED.

Grateful advice ・draft repy

Environment and Countryside

MR DAVID TRIPPIER RD JP MP

Mr Hughes MAED

M125/2

PM

Department of the Environment 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 3EB

Telephone 01-276x50x3440

APS/MR. WALDEGRAVE [HKCISI

to see Mr Wablegrave's

comment. Auto

APS/MR. WALDEGRAVE

Dear Minister',

151/1

22 september 1989,

with

sehing

the Lom tem imprant of

Elephant relaties

238

the way.

ཝཏྭཱ ཀནྡྷནཾ ཨཱམབྷཱཝཏྟཱ ཙ

Shine har grind

in

the

The Seventh CITES Conference will take place in Lausanne

The Conference will consider a proposal to upgrade the African Elephant from Appendix II to Appendix I of Convention. If this is agreed, it would result in the cessation of commercial trade in ivory. We, together with our European partners have declared our support for the case for Appendix I listing, whilst recognising the complexities of the issue. These complexities have become increasingly clear in two particular respects; those South African countries which have successful wildlife management programmes and whose populations of elephants are increasing are opposed to a ban on trade in their ivory; and countries with existing stocks of legal ivory, especially Hong Kong, wish to be allowed to trade in them. Both these issues have significant implications for UK foreign policy and I am writing to seek your agreement to the line which the UK delegation should take on these issues at the Conference.

B

WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE

SOUTHERN AFRICA

You will be familiar with the arguments put forward by some Southern African states, most notably Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, to support the continuance of trade in their ivory and hides.

Their elephant populations are growing and the authorities have to cull the elephants in

in order to relieve pressure on the elephants' habitats. The ivory and hides obtained from the culling are sold and provide a useful source of revenue, which can help to fund the proper management of their wildlife resources, as well as generate income for rural populations in game areas.

These Southern African countries are opposed to a ban on trade in their elephants and have indicated that they would consider entering a reservation against Appendix I listing if such listing were accepted by the Conference. The entry of reservations would be damaging to the effectiveness of CITES (rendering the Appendix I listing ineffective), to its international standing and may set a precedent for future conflict. To avoid this, efforts are being made to arrive at a compromise solution acceptable both to those countries supporting a ban and those opposing it. We do not know what form such a compromise would take, but I consider