TNAG-2033-FCO40-2896-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 105

BODAAZ

G. IVORY

IS UK ENTERING RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG

KONG?

Yes.

Have today entered six-month reservation on behalf of Hong Kong with respect to CITES

amendment providing for listing of African elephant on Appendix I of Convention.

Reservation will not apply to United Kingdom

and Northern Ireland or to any Dependent

Territory other than Hong Kong.

- Reservation will allow Hong Kong traders time to dispose of their legally-acquired ivory in an orderly fashion, and also enable workers and

carvers to find alternative employment.

HONG KONG'S COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION

Hong Kong, like the UK, is fully committed to conservation of endangered species, including African elephant. Has already banned imports of ivory and has undertaken to introduce

legislation to ban all trade in ivory in six

months' time.

CONTRADICTION WITH UK VOTE IN FAVOUR OF APPENDIX

I LISTING AT LAUSANNE CONFERENCE

No. UK supports re-lisiting of African elephant on to Appendix I of CITES and voted for it at Lausanne. But we did not vote in favour

of a ban on trade in existing stocks.

we abstained on behalf of Hong Kong.

Instead

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