TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 186

HONGKONG STANDARD 678 3195 A

The Hongkong Standard

FORWARD WITH HONGKONG

4th Floor Sing Tau Building,

| Wang Kwong Nnad, Kowloon Bay,

Fowloon, Hong Kong.

221

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Phones Commercial & Editorial 3-7982798 Féx: 3-7953009 Classified: 3-7998833 Fax: 3-7956000 Tolex: 35877 HKS HX Cable: HKSTANDARD

4th, August '89 Foreign Office

office

Meer Sir/Madam

7

HKCISI/I

MMED roughe DOE

neus

I am currently writing an article concerning the ironic

situation Hong Kong has found itself in regarding the E.C. ban on ivory imports. Britain pushed for the ban at the recent meeting in Luxembourg, but as a result Hong Kong, a British territor bag found that it cannot export its ivory stockpiles (500 tons Marked ivory and 170 tons worked ivory) The entire trade in Hong

Konk is now in danger of collapsing.

1. Does the Foreign Office agree with Hong Kong's request to be

allowed to trade its existing stocks 7

2. Does the F.0. agree that Hong Kong is in a difficult position

regarding CITES talks, as it is not a full member and has to speak as a member of the British contingent even though its position is quite different from Britain's ?

3. What is the F.0. view on the continuation of the Hong Kong

ivory trade 7

I would greatly appreciate answers to these questions within the

next 24 hours.

Many thanks for your help,

Hindrens Comford greford

Andrew Bomford,

Senior Reporter