TNAG-1957-FCO40-2786-Hong-Kong-Animals-and-Plants-(Protection-of-Endangered-Speci-1989 — Page 68

A Paul, HID To include in briefing

for the meeting

CONFIDENTIAL

29 November please.

&

17

Private Secretary H HKCISI ||

FROM:

DATE:

COPIES:

Sarta & State Hassee Bloy

PA

N P Bayne

29

22 November 1989

PS/Mr Waldegrave PS/Mr Maude PS/PUS

Mr Lidington Mr Gillmore

Mr Carrick

Mr McLaren

Mr Beetham, MAED

Mr Burns, News Dept Mr Edwards, Legal

Advisers

Mr Paul, HKD

HONG KONG AND IVORY TRADE

1. I have seen Hong Kong Department's submission of 17 November to Mr Maude and I gather that he has endorsed the Department's recommendation. I have also seen the minutes from APS/Mr Waldegrave of 20 November and from Mr Lidington of 21 November. I should like to add my own comment.

2.

The ivory trade was raised with me during my visit to Hong Kong last week. Mrs Anson Chan of the Hong Kong Government did not press for a buy-out fund but argued very strongly the case for a six-month reservation during which Hong Kong could dispose of existing stock. She confirmed that, if the Hong Kong Goverment were not able to enter a 6-month reservation, the Legislative Council would not enact the legislation to enable Hong Kong to implement the ban on ivory trade required by the CITES. She thought the Legislative Council would also annul the existing export licencing requirements which provide control of the trade.

3.

I asked Mrs Chan how one could be sure that a six-month reservation, if granted, would not be abused, by allowing more illegal ivory to enter Hong Kong. She gave me a paper, which I attach, which describes the control regime. This looks to me as giving good safeguards against abuse over a limited period, such as six months.

•

But if

I would argue in favour of Hong Kong Department's recommendation. I recognise that it would be deeply unpopular with environmental opinion in this country. we deny Hong Kong the six-month reservation and they therefore refuse to apply the ban the damage to Britain's reputation would be even worse. After all, we rely on the Hong Kong Government to implement the ban in Hong Kong and to

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