المد فكر السياسة.
UNCLASSIFIED
026250
MDLOAN 2362
EXTENSION OF THE SYSTEM OF MARKING AND REGISTRATION TO DETECT ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF IVORY, THE INTRODUCTION OF POSSESSION LICENCES FOR HOLDING OF STOCK MORE THAN 5KG, THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPORT LICENCES.
(G) WHERE WILL HONG KONG'S IVORY GO?
TO COUNTRIES NOT PARTY TO CITES OR WHICH HAVE NOT ACCEPTED CITES BAN. LICENCES WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR EXPORTS TO COUNTRIES
WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE BAN.
(H) WHAT GUARANTEE THAT RESERVATION WILL BE WITHDRAWN IN SIX MONTHS' TIME?
THE UK WILL NOT EXTEND RESERVATION BEYOND SIX MONTHS.
(I) HAS UK PREVIOUSLY ENTERED RESERVATION UNDER CITES?
-
YES. IN FEBRUARY 1977 UK ENTERED LIMITED RESERVATION ON
BEHALF OF HONG KONG ON LISTING OF AFRICAN ELEPHANT ON APPENDIX II OF CITES. RESERVATION WAS WITHDRAWN IN JUNE 1978.
(J) CONTRADICTION WITH UK VOTE IN FAVOUR OF APPENDIX I LISTING AT LAUSANNE CONFERENCE?
-
NO.
UK SUPPORTS RE-LISTING OF AFRICAN ELEPHANT ONTO APPENDIX I OF CITES AND VOTED FOR IT AT LAUSANNE. BUT WE DID NOT VOTE IN FAVOUR OF A BAN ON TRADE IN EXISTING STOCKS, INSTEAD WE ABSTAINED ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG.
(K) WHY SO LATE IN ENTERING RESERVATION?
-
CONSULTATION PROCESS WITHIN WHITEHALL AND WITH HONG KONG A LENGTHY ONE. HAD TO BE SURE BEFORE ENTERING A RESERVATION THAT
NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE EXISTED.
(L) SPLIT BETWEEN FCO AND DOE?
NO. FCO, DOE AND HONG KONG ALL SHARE THE SAME COMMITMENT TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. BELIEVE THAT THIS INTERIM ARRANGEMENT WILL BEST ENSURE THAT HONG KONG CAN COMPLY WITH A BAN ON TRADE IN SIX MONTHS' TIME.
(M) WILL HONG KONG NEED NEW LEGISLATION?
EXISTING HONG KONG LEGISLATION DOES NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC POWERS TO BAN TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES. AN AMENDING BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED. WE EXPECT THIS TO BE IN PLACE IN GOOD TIME.
BACKGROUND
4.
THE UNITED KINGDOM IS A PARTY TO THE CONVENTION ON
3
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.