CONFIDENTIAL
305
152750
MDHIAN 3312
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3696
OF 07103OZ NOVEMBER 89
HKCISI||
TOP COPY Q DIST >
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
301
OUR TELNO 3631: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE
1. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED THIS MORNING
(A) THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COMPENSATING TRADERS FOR THEIR LOSSES, BUT THAT HMG SHOULD BE ASKED TO PURSUE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL BUY OUT FUND SPONSORED BY THE MAJOR CITES PARTIES BEFORE THE 90-DAY CITES GRACE
PERIOD EXPIRES:
(B) FAILING (A), HMG BE ASKED TO ENTER A SHORT-TERM RESERVATION ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF, TO REMAIN IN FORCE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AFTER THE EXPIRY OF THE 90-DAY GRACE PERIOD IN ORDER TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE TRADERS TO DISPOSE OF THEIR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND FOR A RETRAINING SCHEME FOR IVORY CRAFTSMEN TO BE IMPLEMENTED: AND
(C) A SCHEME FOR RETRAINING IVORY INDUSTRY CRAFTSMEN SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TOGETHER WITH A SUBSISTANCE ALLOWANCE TO MAINTAIN THE CRAFTSMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE THEY ARE UNDERGOING RETRAINING.
2. IN COMING TO THESE CONCLUSIONS THE COUNCIL TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE FACTS THAT
(A) THE DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE CITES CONFERENCE HAD LEFT US LITTLE ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE - THE UK SPONSORED RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND WAIVURE OF THE 90-DAY RULE HAD MADE THE CHANCES OF DISPOSING OF HONG KONG'S STOCKS OF LEGALLY ACQUIRED IVORY EVEN MORE DIFFICULT:
(B) A REALISTIC BREATHING SPACE WAS THUS NEEDED FOR THE TRADERS TO DISPOSE OF STOCKS IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND FOR US TO ESTABLISH A RETRAINING PROGRAMME FOR REDUNDANT WORKERS. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR THE PLIGHT OF IVORY WORKERS WHOSE LIVELIHOOD WILL BE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED:
(C) COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITES BAN ON TRADING IN IVORY FROM JANUARY
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.