TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 40

53

HKCISI/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

29 JAN 1990

DESK OFFICER

EARLY DAY MOTION Nồ

LINE TO TAKE-

REGISTRY

Enter + PA

*

EXEMPTION FOR HONG KONG IVORY

Action Taxen

(24/1/90)

We understand the concern for protection of the African elephant

expressed in the Motion. However as my rt Hon Friend the Foreign

Secretary made clear on 17 January, Hong Kong has already banned

imports.

Illegal ivory cannot enter the market through Hong Kong so

it is nonsense to suggest that the Reservation will encourage poaching.

BACKGROUND

1. The 7th Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which took place in Lausanne from 9-20 October 1989 voted in favour of up-grading the African elephant from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention, thereby banning international trade.

2. The amendment to the Convention came into force on 18 January.

At Hong Kong's request we entered a six-month Reservation to allow

them time to dispose of their stocks in an orderly fashion and to retrain ivory workers. We entered the Reservation on 17 January. The Secretary of State announced it in the House that day, during the debate on Hong Kong, in reply to a question from Mr Tony Banks. The Secretary of State made it clear that we will withdraw the

reservation in six months' time and that we do not consider it to

apply to the UK or to any other British Dependent Territory.

3.

Opponents of the decision claim that by allowing continued trade in ivory we will create a loophole for the entry of illegal ivory onto the market and thereby encourage more poaching. But we believe that, given the difficulties in disposing of the legal stock in Hong Kong, it would make no sense to attempt to import more ivory, illegally, into the Territory. And the measures taken by the Hong Kong authorities since June 1989 will combat illegal trade. These measures include a ban on imports, export licensing, possession licensing for quantities in excess of 5kg, and the setting up of a Customs task force and a computer data base to track the movements of ivory and a five-fold increase in fines for illegal trading.