TNAG-1957-FCO40-2786-Hong-Kong-Animals-and-Plants-(Protection-of-Endangered-Speci-1989 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 27120OZ FCO

TELNO 3905

OF 27090OZ NOVEMBER 89

CONFIDENTIAL

sili

HKCISI

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

322

037540

MDHIAN 6206

TOP COPY Q DIST?

321

YOUR TELNO 2362: OUR TELNO 3793 HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE

IN THE TIME AVAILABLE, AND IN THE ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG OF SEVERAL KEY PLAYERS, WE CANNOT PROVIDE MUCH BY THE WAY OF CHAPTER AND VERSE.

WE CAN HOWEVER SAY THAT ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS IN THE GATT COUNCIL IN

1978 AND 1979 THE UK DELEGATE,SPEAKING FOR HONG KONG, MADE THE HONG KONG CASE EVEN THOUGH THAT CASE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE UK'S

POSITION.

2. FOR EXAMPLE IN DISCUSSING A 1978 CASE IN WHICH THE EEC ON BEHALF

OF THE UK WAS TAKING DISCRIMINATORY ACTION AGAINST IMPORT INTO THE UK OF KOREAN TELEVISION SETS, THE UK DELEGATE SPEAKING FOR HK SUPPORTED KOREA ON GROUNDS OF PRINCIPLE.

3. IN THE TELECON, CHOLROYDE, HKD/RICHARDSON, ESB) YOU SOUGHT BACKGROUND AS TO AN EARLIER RESERVATION ON IVORY. YOU MIGHT LIKE TO

REFER TO THE DOCUMENT ENTITLED QUOTE ANNOTATED CITES APPENDICES AND

RESERVATIONS, 1988 UNQUOTE PRODUCED BY WILDLIFE TRADE MONITORING UNIT AND IUCN CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE. THE RESERVATION IN RESPECT

OF HONG KONG WAS, VALID IN RESPECT OF APPENDIX II, LOXODONTA AFRICANA, FROM 4 FEBRUARY 1977 TO 3 JULY 1978. A REFERENCE POINT IS PARA. 2

OF YOUR TELNO 427 OF 4 JUNE 1976.

4. WE ARE BEING PRESSED BY LEGCO TO LET THEM KNOW BY 30 NOVEMBER THE

OUTCOME OF OUR REQUEST FOR A SHORT-TERM RESERVATION. THIS ARISES

FROM A DECISION OF THE LEGCO IN-HOUSE MEETING ON 17 NOVEMBER TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST BUT TO LINK THIS SUPPORT TO THE NEED, OR OTHER- WISE, FOR EXPORT PERMITS FOR IVORY. PENDING A DECISION ON THE RESERVATION, LEGCO MUST DECIDE BEFORE 30 NOVEMBER WHETHER TO ALLOW THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) (EXEMPTION) CAMENDMENT) ORDER 1989 (PARA. 2 OF OUR TELNO 3285) TO

•

PASS UNCHALLENGED OR WHETHER TO AMEND IT THIS ORDER HAS THE PRESENT

EFFECT OF REQUIRING ALL IVORY EXPORTS TO BE LICENCED. AN AMENDMENT

COULD REMOVE THIS REQUIREMENT EITHER PERMANENTLY OR FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD.

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