TNAG-1957-FCO40-2786-Hong-Kong-Animals-and-Plants-(Protection-of-Endangered-Speci-1989 — Page 136

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(A) HK WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE A TOTAL BAN ON IVORY IMPORTS, SO NO MORE KILLING OF ELEPHANTS COULD BE SAID TO RESULT FROM THE ENTERING OF THE RESERVATION.

(B) THIS WOULD PERMIT LIMITED TRADE IN EXISTING STOCKS ONLY, AND WOULD ALLOW TRADERS TO REDUCE THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THEY ARE NOW FACING. THE RESERVATION WOULD THUS TACKLE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY IMPLICATIONS FOR EXISTING ELEPHANT POPULATIONS.

4. THE IVORY ISSUE IS TO BE RAISED IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW, AND WE WOULD LIKE, FOR THAT DISCUSSION, TO KNOW YOUR FURTHER REACTION TO THE IDEA OF AN INTERNATIONAL COMPENSATION FUND, AND IN PARTICULAR WHETHER YOU ARE PREPARED TO APPROACH RELEVANT GOVERNMEN OF MAJOR CITES PARTIES AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS FOR THE REACTION.

5. YOUR TUR DEALT SOLELY WITH THE PROBLEMS OF RAISING THIS ISUE AT CITES, BUT AS YOU WILL HAVE NOTED FROM PARA. 4 OF OUR TELNO 3503 WE ENVISAGED THAT CITES COULD PROVIDE ONLY AN INITIAL AIRING OF THE

CONFERENCE. ISSUE, WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE PURSUED FURTHER OUTWITH THE

6. YOUR FURTHER RESPONSE IS SOUGHT DESKBY 31010OZ OCT TO ALLOW US TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON UK'S SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FUND IDEA LIKELY TO BE ASKED DURING EXCO'S CONSIDERATION TOMMORROW. YOUR RESPONSE TO THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR UK TO ENTER A CITES RESERVATION ON OUR BEHALF WOULD ALSO BE WELCOME.

WILSON

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