TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 27

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG

TELNO 242

OF 26120OZ JANUARY 90

RESTRICTED

TOD COPY Q DIST ?

(61)

057357 MDLOAN 3403

IVORY: ADEQUACY OF CUSTOMS CHECKING

.

1 THE WORLD-WIDE FUND FOR NATURE HAS WRITTEN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THE RESERVATION ENTERED ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG. WE ARE FAXING A COPY OF THE LETTER TO CLARK (ESB).

2.

MUCH OF THE LETTER DEALS WITH THE USUAL COMPLAINTS, BUT THEY

ALSO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ASSERTION THAT QUOTE ONLY SOME 2 PER

CENT OF THE CONTAINERISED CARGO PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG IS

INSPECTED BY CUSTOMS AND EXCISE UNQUOTE.

3. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS.

WE ASSUME THAT AN INSPECTION RATIO OF 2 PERCENT IS BASED ON SOME

FAIRLY COMMON INTERNATIONAL NORM, BUT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE

YOUR ADVICE.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

20

MINIMAL

HKD

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

20

MAED

HKCISI

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

9 AN 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

Action in th