TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 15

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HKGO GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO CITES LAUSANNE ATTENTION MR LAWRENCE LEE ATTENDING CITES LAUSANNE

HKGO LONDON ATTENTION MR A.R. CLARK ATTENDING IMO CONFERENCE WASHINGTON FOR GOVERNOR HONG KONG

HONG KONG IVORY TRADE AND CITES

1. HONG KONG'S IVORY TRADE IS NOW FACING EXTREME DIFFICULTIES AS A RESULT OF RECENT DECISIONS AT THE CITES CONFERENCE.

2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AS REPORTED IN THE PRESS, IN THE MARGINS OF THE CONFERENCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING UP AN INTERNATIONAL FUND TO COMPENSATE HOLDERS OF EXISTING IVORY STOCKS WAS MOOTED.

3. IN VIEW OF THE PLIGHT OF THE HONG KONG TRADE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EQUITABLE PRICE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PAY FOR CESSATION OF IVORY TRADING. (YOU WILL DOUBTLESS BE AWARE THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG'S IVORY TRADE HAD EARLIER ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CERTAIN EC COUNTRIES, FROM WHICH THEY LEGALLY OBTAINED IVORY, IN THE EVENT OF AN OUTRIGHT BAN.) WE STRONGLY URGE THAT HMG TAKES THE LEAD IN CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A FUND ON THE GROUNDS THAT :

(A) IT WOULD ASSIST IN SECURING MORE EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITES RESOLUTION, THUS MINIMIZING THE RISK OF BOTH FURTHER RESERVATIONS BEING LODGED BY PARTIES AND OF THE TRADE BEING DRIVEN UNDERGROUND:

(B) ANY SUCH CALL WOULD IN ANY CASE NEED TO BE MADE THROUGH UK'S MEMBERSHIP OF CITES. IN ANY EVENT OUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE WILL WISH TO RAISE THIS ISSUE AND WE TRUST YOU WILL AGREE. HOWEVER YOUR TAKING THE MATTER UP ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF WOULD OBVIOUSLY CARRY VERY MUCH MORE WEIGHT.

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