TNAG-1956-FCO40-2785-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 84

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ка

256

044334

MDHIAN 9372

UNCLASSIFIED

FM UKMIS GENEVA

TO DESKBY 11080OZ FCOLN

TELNO 617

OF 101715Z OCTOBER 1989

(AMENDED DISTRIBUTION) HKCISI

FROM UK DELEGATION TO CITES CONFERENCE

HKCISI/I

1. DELEGATION UNDER PRESSURE TODAY FROM UK PRESS WHO PROMPTED BY UK NGO'S, ESPECIALLY GREENPEACE, ARE ALLEGING THAT UK DELEGATION NOT FOLLOWING POLICY BEING PRESENTED BY MINISTERS IN LONDON. PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THAT UK DELEGATION OPEN MINDED ABOUT EXEMPTIONS ON APPENDIX I LISTING WHILST MINISTERS ARE BEING REPORTED AS EXCLUDING

ANY SUCH POSSIBILITY.

2. FOLLAND, HEAD OF DELEGATION, WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS TODAY BY TIMES AND DAILY MAIL (MCCARTHY AND RYAN) AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT INDEPENDENT AND TODAY. LINE TAKEN IS THAT WE SUPPORT APPENDIX I LISTING, NOTE THAT SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG HAVE CASE TO MAKE AND WILL VOTE FOR THOSE PROPOSALS THAT BEST ENSURE FUTURE SECURITY OF AFRICAN ELEPHANT. WE FIRMLY DENIED THAT UK DELEGATION OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY FROM MINISTERS IN LONDON. FOLLOWING TELECON FOLLAND/GREEN (DOE) EVENS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRESS AGAIN THESE POINTS WITH MCCARTHY AND RYAN, BUT RYAN DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONVINCED. RYAN ALSO CLAIMED THAT UK POICY OF CONSIDERING ALL THE ARGUEMENTS PUT FORWARD AT CITES BEFORE MAKING UP OUR MIND WAS QUOTE WIMPISH UNQUOTE. EVANS REPLIED THAT IT WAS MORE SENSIBLE TO CONSIDER WHAT WAS BEING SAID AT CITES RATHER THAN ARRIVING WITH PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS. RYAN DID NOT ACCEPT THIS EITHER.

3. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR URGENT CLEARANCE ON FOLLOWING PRESS LINE WE WOULD LIKE TO USE IN EVENT OF FURTHER ENQUIRIES ALONG SAME LINES:

POINTS TO MAKE

UK FIRMLY SUPPORTS APPENDIX I LISTING FOR AFRICAN ELEPHANT

UK'S CONCERN FOR FUTURE OF SPECIES DEMONSTRATED BY INTRODUCTION OF IMPORT BAN ON 9 JUNE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO EC PARTNERS TO DO SAME, WHICH THEY DID ON 17 AUGUST

—

RECOGNISE THAT THERE ARE CASES FOR EXEMPTIONS FROM APPENDIX I LISTINGS., WE SHALL CONSIDER ALL SUCH PROPOSALS AND WILL VOTE FOR THOSE WHICH BEST ENSURE FUTURE SECURITY OF AFRICAN ELEPHANT.

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