TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 71

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA, KNOWN AS CITES. (FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE GUIDANCE TEL NO 40 OF 27 JUNE 1989). THE SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO CITES TOOK PLACE IN LAUSANNE FROM 9-20 OCTOBER 1989. THE MAIN ISSUE WAS THE PROPOSED RE-LISTING OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT, LOXODONTA AFRICANA, FROM APPENDIX II CON WHICH IT HAD BEEN LISTED IN 1977) TO APPENDIX I (IE A BAN ON COMMERCIAL

TRADE). THE PROPONENTS MAINTAINED THAT WITHOUT A WORLDWIDE BAN THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT, ALREADY DECIMATED IN EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS KENYA AND TANZANIA, WOULD FACE EXTINCTION. THIS WAS OPPOSED BY SOUTHERN AFRICAN STATES, LED BY ZIMBABWE AND BOTSWANA, WHO ARGUED THAT THE SOLUTION WAS ELEPHANT MANAGEMENT AND CONTROLLED CULLING. THE CONFERENCE VOTED, BY 76 TO 11 WITH 4 ABSTENTIONS, IN FAVOUR OF RE-LISTING ON APPENDIX I. THE UK, TOGETHER WITH OUR EC PARTNERS, VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THIS PROPOSAL.

5.

CONFERENCE ALSO DISCUSSED PROPOSALS TO ALLOW CONTINUED TRADE IN EXISTING IVORY STOCKS, OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG, WHICH HAS THE LARGEST STOCK IN THE WORLD (SOME 600 TONNES OF IVORY, WORTH APPROXIMATELY POUNDS STERLING 80M BEFORE THE CITES CONFERENCE). THIS IVORY WAS LEGALLY IMPORTED UNDER CITES PROCEDURES. THE HONG KONG IVORY INDUSTRY EMPLOYS SOME 3,000 PEOPLE. HONG KONG, AS A DEPENDENT TERRITORY, IS NOT SEPARATELY A PARTY TO CITES BUT WAS REPRESENTED ON THE UK DELEGATION TO LAUSANNE. CONFERENCE WAS NOT HOWEVER CONVINCED BY THEIR PRESENTATION OF HONG KONG'S CASE FOR CONTINUED TRADE AND VOTED AGAINST CONTINUED TRADE. THE UK ABSTAINED ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG

AND PORTUGAL DID SO ON BEHALF OF MACAO.

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THE AMENDMENTS AGREED AT LAUSANNE COME INTO FORCE ON 18 JANUARY. UNTIL THEN, ANY PARTY TO CITES CAN, UNDER THE TERMS OF ARTICLE XV OF CITES ENTER A RESERVATION EXEMPTING ITSELF FROM ANY RE-LISTING. IN THE LIGHT OF THE DECISION TO BAN TRADE IN EXISTING STOCKS THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ASKED HMG TO ENTER A SIX-MONTH RESERVATION AGAINST THE APPENDIX I LISTING TO GIVEN THEM MORE TIME TO DISPOSE LEGALLY OF THEIR STOCK (TO COUNTRIES NOT PARTY TO CITES OR WHICH HAVE ALSO ENTERED RESERVATION) AND TO RE-TRAIN THE WORKFORCE. WE AGREED TO DO SO AND ON 17 JANUARY TOOK ACTION WITH THE CITES DEPOSITARY GOVERNMENT, SWITZERLAND, IN BERNE AND LONDON. WE HAVE ALSO INFORMED THE CITES SECRETARIAT

DIRECTLY OF OUR DECISION. WE MAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE RESERVATION WILL LAST FOR SIX MONTHS ONLY (FROM 18 JANUARY) AND

THAT WE DO NOT CONSIDER IT TO APPLY TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ANY DEPENDENT TERRITORY OTHER THAN HONG KONG. FURTHERMORE, THE

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