CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
HKCISI
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
309
156121
MDHIAN 3486
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3706
OF 08063OZ NOVEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
GON
MENT
YOUR TELNO 2246: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE
·
1 WE WILL HAVE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES SHOULD YOUR ASSESSMENT THAT MINISTER ARE UNLIKELY TO AGREE TO A RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG PROVE CORRECT.
2. OUR POSITION IS THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR A SHORT-TERM RESERVATION TO BE ENTERED IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG WITH REGARD TO THE CITES DECISION TO UPLIFT THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT TO APPENDIX I OF THE
CONVENTION.
3. WE THEREFORE FORMALLY REQUEST THAT HMG ENTER A RESERVATION ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF, TO BE VALID FOR SIX MONTHS FROM THE EXPIRY OF
THE 90-DAY GRACE PERIOD.
4. THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG IS THAT FAILURE TO ENTER SUCH A RESOLUTION WILL INEVITABLY GENERATE HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE UK GOVERNMENT (PARA 2(C) OF OUR TELNO 3696). THIS COULD IN TURN LEAD TO THE LEGISLATURE BLOCKING THE LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THUS HAVING MOST UNDESIRABLE CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES. WE ALSO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE BAN ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN IVORY.
5. WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY TAKEN ACCOUNT OF THE WIDER INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND OUR JUDGEMENT IS THAT A LIMITED RESERVATION OFFERS
THE BEST OF TWO UNPALATABLE ALTERNATIVES.
6. PLEASE ENSURE THAT MINISTERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF OUR FORMAL
POSITION AND OF THE REASONING BEHIND IT.
7. WE WILL RESPOND SEPARATELY ON PARA 3 OF TUR.
WILSON
YYYY
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