CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3631
OF 01100OZ NOVEMBER 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKCISI
TOP COPY Q DIST?
301
134024
MDHIAN 2487
YOUR TELNO 2192: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE.
1. THANKYOU FOR AGREEING TO CONSULT MINISTERS.
2. IN DOING SO YOU MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND HELPFUL.
3. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS COMING UNDER SEVER PRESSURE FROM
(A) THE IVORY TRADERS (WHO ARE COMING TO TERMS WITH THE DEMISE OF THEIR TRADE BUT DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO DISPOSE OF THEIR
BUSINESS): AND
(B) THE IVORY CARVERS (WHO FACE SUDDEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND WHO WILL NEED TIME TO ADAPT AND ADOPT NEW SKILLS).
4. IN THE HONG KONG CONTEXT THE CARVING OF IVORY IS SEEN AS A TRADITIONAL CHINESE CRAFT. THE TRADE DOES NOT CARRY THE STIGMA IT DOES IN THE WEST. THE DECISION OF CITES TO BAN IT WHEN HONG KONG HAS, UNTIL NOW, PLAYED STRICTLY BY THE RULES AND FOR THAT BAN TO BE BACKED BY NEW LEGISLATION EFFECTIVE FROM AS EARLY AS MID-JANUARY HAS
NOT GONE DOWN WELL.
5. IN PRACTICAL TERMS WE HAVE TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
(A) TO MEET THE CONCERN OF THE TRADE FOR ADEQUATE TIME TO WIND DOWN THEIR BUSINESS AND TO DISPOSE OF THEIR EXISTING LEGALLY ACQUIRED
STOCK:
(B) TO ESTABLISH AND PUT INTO OPERATION A TETRAINING PROGRAMME FOR
CRAFTSMEN: AND
(C) TO ENACT THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO GIVE FULL EFFECT TO THE
CITES BAN.
6. WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY TIME TO DEAL WITH 5(A) AND
5(B).
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