TNAG-1957-FCO40-2786-Hong-Kong-Animals-and-Plants-(Protection-of-Endangered-Speci-1989 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL

the reasons given in paragraph 8 below. But the idea of the UK

entering a reservation on Hong Kong's behalf is feasible and

politically necessary in Hong Kong terms. I recommend that the

Secretary of State minutes to Mr Patten accordingly. I submit a

draft.

3. Mr Edwards (Legal Advisers) has been consulted and agrees. However, MAED have strong reservations about this recommendation, for the reasons given in paragraph 13 below.

Background

4. At the seventh Conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) which was held in Lausanne on 9-20 October 1989, it was agreed that all international trade in raw and worked ivory by parties to the Convention should be banned. The African elephant was transferred from Appendix II of the Convention (listing those species for which limited trade is permitted under strict CITES controls) to Appendix I (listing species for which all trade is prohibited). The UK voted at the Conference in favour of the ban and also tabled a Resolution (which was adopted), calling for the ban to be implemented immediately, rather than allowing the normal 90 day grace period. A further Resolution put forward by the CITES secretariat, which would have allowed Hong Kong to continue to trade in existing stocks was defeated. The UK abstained (on Hong Kong's behalf) in the vote on this Resolution.

5. Hong Kong has long been the centre of the world's ivory trade and has by far the largest stock pile. Its existing stocks amount

to some 600 tonnes and were estimated to be worth about £83 million

before the ban. The Hong Kong Government estimate that some 3,000 people are directly engaged in the trading and carving of ivory.

6. Hong Kong is a party to CITES through the UK's ratification and

the Hong Kong Government have always complied fully with the provisions of the Convention. In response to mounting international concern about the continued decline of the African elephant, the