TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 16

}

UNCLASSIFIED

072454 MDHIAN 0580

-

4. CLEARLY, THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH NEEDS TO BE RAISED INITIALLY BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF THE CURRENT CITES CONFERENCE.

5. THE LINE WHICH WE ARE TAKING WITH THE PRESS (FOR BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONSUMPTION) ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CITES CONFERENCE IS AS

FOLLOWS:

(A)

HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS ABIDED BY CITES RESOLUTIONS IN THE PAST, AND WE WILL COMPLY WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

(B) THE CITES DECISIONS HAVE LEFT HONG KONG WITH VERY LITTLE SCOPE FOR ABSORBING THEIR ADVERSE IMPACT UPON OUR IVORY TRADE IN WHAT IS WE AGAIN EMPHASISE LEGALLY ACQUIRED STOCK WHICH WAS OBTAINED

-

IN GOOD FAITH IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE CITES RULES.

(C) WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT OUR ADVICE THAT IT IS BETTER TO SATISFY RESIDUAL DEMAND FOR IVORY FROM PRESENT, LEGALLY ACQUIRED STOCK THAN BY FURTHER KILLING OF ELEPHANTS, HAS BEEN IGNORED.

(D) WE SHALL NOW NEED TO CONSULT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG'S IVORY TRADE TO SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE THEIR DIFFICULTIES.

FORD

YYYY

MAIN

63

LIMITED

MAED

SAFD

HKD

CAFD

EAD

NEWS D

- PS

ADDITIONAL

3

MR GREEN DRA/DOE MR BUNCE DOE/ BRISTOL

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

86

PAGE

PS/MR WALDEGRAVE PS/PUS

MR BAYNE

MR TOMKYS

MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

MR FAIRWEATHER

MR MCLAREN

EAFD LODA

2

UNCLASSIFIED