TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL.

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017165

MDHOAN 1186

HKCIS///

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 JAN 1990

PESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

Action Taken

TOP COPY COPY

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FM FCO

TO DESKBY 160001Z HONG KONG-

INDEX

TELNO 146

OF 15190OZ JANUARY 90

PERSONAL FOR PAUL (SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY FROM MARSDEN, HKD

201

YOUR TELNO 173 AND POWELL'S LETTER OF 15 JANUARY TO BRIGHT, DOE (SENT TO YOU BY FAX): HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE

1. WE ASSUME THAT OUR INTENTION TO ENTER A RESERVATION ON HONG

KONG'S BEHALF IS LIKELY TO BE ANNOUNCED AT TOMORROW'S PRESS CONFERENCE. WE ARE THEREFORE FAXING TO YOU A COPY OF OUR DRAFT PRESS LINE (WHICH WE ARE CLEARING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT). WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU OR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE ON THE DRAFT. IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD FAX TO US THE DRAFT STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

2. WE PROPOSE TO ENTER THE RESERVATION BY MEANS OF A FIRST PERSON NOTE FROM HMA BERNE TO THE SWISS MFA, A COPY OF WHICH WOULD ALSO BE SENT TO THE CITES SECRETARIAT. THE NOTE WOULD

STATE THAT QUOTE THIS RESERVATION WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS ONLY, FROM 18 JANUARY 1990, AND THAT (HMG) WILL APPLY THE CONVENTION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WITH THE

SOLE EXCEPTION OF HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND ALSO WISH TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IMPORTS OF IVORY INTO HONG KONG HAVE BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, PROHIBITED AND THAT ONLY IVORY CURRENTLY HELD

LEGALLY IN HONG KONG WILL BE PERMITTED TO BE RE-EXPORTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE RESERVATION, UNQUOTE.

3.

UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION, WE WOULD PREFER TO ENTER THE RESERVATION ON 17 JANUARY IN ORDER TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE OF

MEETING THE CITES DEADLINE WHICH STIPULATES THAT ANY RESERVATION MUST BE ENTERED QUOTE BY 18 JANUARY 1990 UNQUOTE.

4. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MINUTE OF 15 JANUARY TO MR PATTEN REFERRED TO HKG ANNOUNCING IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF A BAN ON IMPORTS. DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE IMPORT BAN INTRODUCED IN JUNE

1989 WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RESCINDED?

5. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DESKBY 16083OZ.

HURD

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CONFIDENTIAL