TNAG-2040-FCO40-2904-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 36

RESTRICTED

(113)

171526

MDHIAN 8117

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 661

OF 22075OZ FEBRUARY 90

in

YOUR TELNO 401: IVORY:

(DISTRIBUTION AMENDED 22ND FEBRUARY)

The 151/1

RECEIVED IN USTRY

LEGISLATIVE TIMETABLE

22 FEB 1990

DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION IS BEING DRAFTED. OUR TENTATIVE TIMETABLE IS:

(A) TO EXCO LATE MARCH

(B)

-

INTRODUCTION INTO LEGCO EITHER 4 APRIL OR, MORE LIKELY, 2 MAY

(C)

COMES INTO EFFECT 18 JULY

-

2.

LEAKEY ALLEGES:

(A)

(B)

(C)

THAT THE HONG KONG MARKET HAS BEEN QUOTE FREED UNQUOTE:

THAT IVORY IS MOVING OUT OF HONG KONG: AND

THAT IVORY INTERCEPTED IN TANZANIA AND KENYA WAS DESTINED FOR HONG KONG: AS EVIDENCE HE QUOTES FROM ARRESTED SMUGGLERS.

THE FACTS ARE:

ON (A)

- ON

1

ON (B)

ON (C)

THAT HONG KONG'S IVORY MARKET IS ANYTHING BUT FREE. IMPORTS ARE BANNED AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME: POSSESSION IS CONTROLLED BY LICENCE AND EXPORTS MAY ONLY BE MADE TO NON-CITES PARTIES.

THAT NO IVORY HAS BEEN EXPORTED SINCE 18 JANUARY CONE EXPORT LICENCE FOR 5.8 KG OF WORKED IVORY HAS BEEN ISSUED: BUT SHIPMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN EFFECTED): AND

THAT WE HAVE DETECTED NO UPSURGE IN ATTEMPTED SMUGGLING THE MOST RECENT SEIZURES OF SUBSTANTIAL

1

PAGE RESTRICTED