TNAG-1957-FCO40-2786-Hong-Kong-Animals-and-Plants-(Protection-of-Endangered-Speci-1989 — Page 154

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TELNO 2246

OF 07150OZ NOVEMBER 89

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MDHOAN 7139

YOUR TELNOS 3589, 3631 AND 3696: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE

1.

HAVE CONFIRMED OUR INTERNATIONAL FUND

HOWEVER WE WILL DO A FAIR WIND. THE

WE SHALL ENSURE THAT THE EXCO DECISION IS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF MINISTERS AND THAT DUE ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF IT. FURTHER DISCUSSIONS INTERDEPARTMENTALLY HERE DOUBTS ABOUT THE PRACTICABILITY OF EITHER AN

OR A RESERVATION ALONG THE LINES YOU SUGGEST OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THESE IDEAS ARE GIVEN POINTS IN YOUR TELEGRAMS WILL CERTAINLY HELP: AND YOUR

DIFFICULTIES ARE WELL UNDERSTOOD HERE. BUT WE MUST WARN THAT THE

PROSPECTS OF ACHIEVING WHAT YOU WANT ARE FRANKLY NOT GOOD.

2. WE FULLY APPRECIATE THAT LEGISLATION HAS TO BE ENACTED TO

BRING THE BAN INTO EFFECT AND THAT IT IS THEREFORE IMPRACTICAL TO

INTRODUCE IT IMMEDIATELY IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UK RECOMMENDATION BUT WE CANNOT ENVISAGE BEING ABLE TO EXTEND THE

CITES RULING REQUIRING IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN 90 DAYS IE BEFORE 18

JANUARY 1990.

3. IN MAKING THE CASE ON YOUR BEHALF, WE WOULD FIND IT USEFUL TO HAVE YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENT VOLUME OF THE PROBLEM IN HONG

KONG IN TERMS OF THE QUANTITY AND VALUE OF STOCKS LIKELY TO REMAIN UNSOLD AT EXPIRY OF THE 9U DAY PERIOD OF GRACE, AND OF THE COST OF RETRAINING THOSE EMPLOYED IN IVORY PROCESSING. WE WOULD ALSO BE

GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER AND IF SO HOW MUCH THE HKG WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO AN INTERNATIONAL FUND.

HURD

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