TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 35

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 324

OF 24120OZ JANUARY 90

CONFIDENTIAL

HKCISL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

29 JAN 1990

DESK OFFICER INDEX--

REGISTRY

Action Taken

TOP COPY a DIST?

55

047304

MDLIAN 2844

YOUR TELNO 221: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE : PQ'S

1. WE ARE CONTENT WITH THE REDRAFT SUGGESTED IN PARA 2 OF TUR SUBJECT TO THE ADDITION OF QUOTE COMMERCIAL UNQUOTE BEFORE QUOTE EXPORTS UNQUOTE IN THE FIRST SENTENCE.

2. AS REGARDS THE QUESTIONS POSED IN PARAS 3A AND 3B THE BACKGROUND IS :

(A) CITES PROVIDES FOR CONTROL IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES. DOMESTIC TRADE IS NOT COVERED BY THE CONVENTION. WE EXPECT IVORY TO CONTINUE TO BE ON SALE IN HONG KONG EVEN AFTER THE RESERVATION EXPIRES:

(B) TOURIST PURCHASES WILL NOT BE BANNED. BUT ANY TOURIST REQUIRING TO EXPORT AN ITEM OF 5 KG OR MORE UNDER HIS PERSONAL POSSESSION WILL REQUIRE AN EXPORT LICENCE FROM THE HKG AND AN IMPORT LICENCE SHOULD HE WISH TO IMPORT INTO A CITES TERRITORY WHICH HAS ACCEPTED THE UPLISTING. WE WILL NOT ISSUE AN EXPORT LICENCE FOR EXPORT TO SUCH A TERRITORY UNTIL WE HAVE SEEN AN IMPORT LICENCE: AND, OF COURSE, A CITES TERRITORY (E.G. THE USA) MAY WELL NOT ISSUE IMPORT LICENCE.

3. AS REGARDS THE EXPANDED REPLY IN PARA 4 OF TUR, QUOTE X UNQUOTE SHOULD READ QUOTE 358 (THREE FIVE EIGHT) UNQUOTE AND QUOTE Y UNQUOTE SHOULD READ QUOTE 116 CONE ONE SIX) UNQUOTE. OUT CITES CONTROLS OVER IMPORTS WERE IMPOSED IN 1978 AS REGARDS RAW IVORY AND 1988 AS REGARDS WORKED IVORY. IN ADDITION IT SHOULD BE RECOGNISED THAT CITES PAPERS CAN GENUINELY GET LOST. YOU MAY WISH TO REVISE THE THIRD SENTENCE TO READ QUOTE ...... BEFORE THE CITES CONTROLS WERE IMPOSED ON RAW IVORY IN 1978 AND WORKED IVORY IN 1988, OR IN RESPECT OF WHICH CITES PAPERS HAVE BECOME LOST AFTER A SERIES OF TRANSACTIONS UNQUOTE.

4. WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN DECLARED STOCK AND REGISTERED STOCK IN OUR REPLY TO YOUR TELNO 211.

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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL