TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 76

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 17010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 174

OF 16180OZ JANUARY 90

INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG

26

022676

MDHOAN 1278

CONFIDENTIAL

HECISIN

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 JAN 1990

DESK OPRICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

OP COPY Q DIST ?

MIPT: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE

1.

FOLLOWING IS DRAFT PRESS LINE:

LINE TO TAKE

2. THE UK SUPPORTS THE RE-LISTING OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT ONTO APPENDIX I OF CITES (IE A BAN ON TRADE IN IVORY) BUT ALSO

RECOGNISES THAT HONG KONG FACES CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES OVER

DISPOSING OF ITS STOCKS OF LEGALLY-ACQUIRED IVORY. A SIX-MONTH

RESERVATION ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG MEETS OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO

A DEPENDENT TERRITORY WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR SUPPORT FOR

MEASURES TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT.

ADDITIONAL POINTS

3.

(A) WHY A RESERVATION?

TO ALLOW HONG KONG TRADERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPOSE OF

THEIR LEGALLY-ACQUIRED STOCKS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.

(B) IS UK STILL COMMITTED TO CITES

UK FULLY COMMITTED TO CITES. RESERVATION APPLIES TO HONG

KONG FOR SIX MONTHS ONLY. DOES NOT APPLY TO UK OR ANY OTHER

DEPENDENT TERRITORY.

(C) HONG KONG HAS BAD RECORD ON CONSERVATION

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HONG KONG FULLY COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING AFRICAN ELEPHANT. HAS BANNED IMPORTS OF IVORY AND INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT CITES BAN ON ALL TRADE IN SIX MONTHS.

(D) IVORY IN HONG KONG WAS ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED?

IVORY HELD IN HONG KONG LEGALLY ACQUIRED UNDER CITES. (E) CONTINUED TRADE WILL PROVIDE LOOPHOLE FOR ENTRY OF ILLEGAL

IVORY ONTO MARKET AND THEREFORE ENCOURAGE MORE POACHING

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IF WE BELIEVED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE ENTERED THE

RESERVATION. ENTRY ONTO MARKET OF HONG KONG STOCKPILE IS NOT A THREAT TO LIVING ELEPHANTS. MAKES NO SENSE FOR ANYONE TO IMPORT, ILLEGALLY, MORE IVORY INTO HONG KONG WHERE THERE IS A STOCKPILE OF 600 TONNES OF LEGAL IVORY AND NO DOMESTIC MARKET. (F) WHAT MEASURES HAVE HONG KONG TAKEN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRADE

IN 1989 HONG KONG INTRODUCED FURTHER CONTROLS TO COMBAT

ILLEGAL TRADE. THESE INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL CUSTOMS

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