CONFIDENTIAL
047317 MDLIAN 2846
52
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
HKCISI
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
TELNO 325
IN2
OF 24120OZ JANUARY 90
TOP COPY
DIST?
29 JAN 1990
Action Taker.
DESK OFFICER
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, OTTAWA NAIROBI, NEW YORK, EC POSTS
WASHINGTON TELNO 171: AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY
·
1 IT MAY HELP YOUR CONSIDERATION OF SAVAGE'S QUESTIONS IF WE WERE TO GIVE INITIAL COMMENTS.
2. ON THE QUESTIONS AT PARA 3 OF TUR, OUR COMMENTS ARE
:-
(A) DURING THE SIX MONTH RESERVATION, ALL COMMERCIAL EXPORTS OF IVORY WILL REQUIRE AN EXPORT LICENCE ISSUED BY THE HKG. SUCH LICENCES WILL ONLY BE GRANTED IN RESPECT OF EXPORTS TO NON-CITES PARTIES OR PARTIES WHICH HAVE ENTERED APPROPRIATE RESERVATIONS. EXPORTS COULD, THEREFORE, BE SENT TO CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA AND WE HAVE NO LEGITIMATE MEANS TO PREVENT THIS:
(B) ANY LICENSED EXPORTS MAY BE EITHER RAW IVORY (I.E. TUSKS, CUT PIECES) OR WORKED IVORY (E.G. CARVED PIECES):
(C) ONLY IVORY LEGALLY OBTAINED, LEGALLY HELD AND IN POSSESSION OF CITES DOCUMENTATION MAY BE EXPORTED:
(D) NO. HONG KONG BANNED IMPORTS OF RAW IVORY ON 16 JUNE 1989 AND INTRODUCED A SIMILAR BAN ON WORKED IVORY ON 18 NOVEMBER 1989. NO COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES OF IVORY MAY NOW BE IMPORTED. PERSONAL EFFECTS IN EXCESS OF 5KG REQUIRE AN IMPORT LICENCE WHICH WILL ONLY BE GRANTED ON THE PRIOR PRODUCTION OF AN EXPORT LICENCE. CLEARLY, WITH AN INSIGNIFICANT DOMESTIC MARKET, GREATLY DIMINISHED EXPORT POTENTIAL AND STRINGENT CONTROLS, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO REPLENISH STOCKS.
3. AS REGARDS PARA 4 (B) OF TUR, OUR POSITION UNTIL THE COMING INTO
WAS FORCE OF APPENDIX I FOR THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT ON 18 JANUARY, THAT THE HKMA (THE CITES AUTHORITY IN HK) WAS OBLIGED TO EXAMINE ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT LICENCES ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL MERITS. THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT UNDER CITES RULES FOR HIM TO CONSIDER THE STATED DESTINATION AS A MATERIAL FACTOR. FROM 18 JANUARY, HOWEVER, WE REGARD THE STATED DESTINATION AS BEING A MATERIAL FACTOR AND
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