TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 14

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FM HONG KONG

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TELNO 386

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REGISTRY Action Taken

YOUR TELNO 271: PQ: IVORY

1. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT ADDITIONAL MATERIAL YOU WOULD FIND HELPFUL. THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THAT HONG KONG'S STOCK OF IVORY WAS ACQUIRED IN THE NORMAL PROCESS OF TRADE. MOST WAS IMPORTED IN THE RAW FORM FROM RANGE STATES EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY COUR TELNO 355) IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITES IVORY TRADE CONTROL PROCEDURE AND ACCOMPANIED BY CITES EXPORT PERMITS. AS YOU KNOW, PART OF HK'S STOCK DOES NOT HAVE CITES DOCUMENTATION (PARA 4 OF OUR TELNO 288).

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

2. HK DEVELOPED AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST IVORY TRADING CENTRE LARGELY BECAUSE OUR TRADERS WERE ABLE TO MATCH DEMAND IN CONSUMING COUNTRIES (JAPAN, USA AND EEC) WITH THE ABILITIES OF A SKILLED WORKFORCE. TRADE DEMANDS IN OVERSEAS MARKETS LED TO HIGH LEVELS OF IMPORTS OF RAW IVORY AND EXPORTS OF FINISHED ARTICLES. AT ANY ONE TIME IN THE PAST TEN YEARS HK WOULD HAVE HAD STOCKS OF THE SIZE WE NOW POSSESS.

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