TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 183

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SUGGESTED REPLIES TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HONG KONG STANDARD

1.

The question of whether trade in existing stocks of ivory should be allowed is a matter for the forthcoming Conference of the Parties to CITES to decide. An important consideration will be whether or not Hong Kong is able to satisfy the Conference that it has devised a strict control system that will ensure that illegal ivory does not enter trade through Hong Kong.

2. It is true that Hong Kong, as a UK Dependent Territory, does not have an independent voice in CITES. However, the UK will ensure that due account is taken of the views of Hong Kong in the discussions at the CITES Conference.

3. We shall need to listen carefully to all the arguments at the Conference and it would be premature at this stage to reach any firm conclusions on this complex and difficult issue.

21/8

Omit

Тия

agreed wit News Deb

as above

with the unglion

2nd sentence f

Para 1.

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1