TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 42

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members of the UK delegation.

The British Press also know and have

published the fact that we intend to abstain. Any decision to

change HMG's vote would undoubtedly be picked up by the press in

Hong Kong as well as in the UK. We therefore recommend that we

hold to our decision to abstain.

5. The effect of an Appendix I listing without exemptions (which

might help Hong Kong) prevents traders holding ivory in Hong Kong

from exporting it. There is nothing to prevent them from selling the ivory in Hong Kong. Also representatives of the Hong Kong

Government told the DOE some time ago that it might be that some

Hong Kong traders would change their residence from Hong Kong to Taiwan and would thereby move their stocks if ivory from Hong Kong

to Taiwan since they would not be contravening the Appendix I

listing.

6. We have been in discussion with representatives of the Hong Kong Government over the question of ivory for many months. During

that time they have not raised the issue of compensation with us or with the DOE. We believe that traders in Hong Kong will seek

compensation for the stocks they hold (valued at £83m) and we know

that the Hong Kong Government is seeking legal advice confirming

that they have no legal liability to pay compensation to those

affected. Our delegation at the CITES Conference have told us that

the Hong Kong delegates within the UK delegation have already taken a robust line with the Hong Kong traders. Also according to the

Hong Kong press some traders there are considering sueing EEC

countries which have refused to re-import worked and raw ivory which they earlier exported to Hong Kong with the intention of re-importing it to the EC.

ROLAKC/SLK

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