TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 97

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 15093OZ BERNE

TELNO 8

OF 12160OZ JANUARY 90

CONFIDENTIAL

HKCISL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 JAN 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

Action Taken

Ember

012135 MDHOAN 1,030

X

14

CITES: AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY AND HONG KONG

1. YOU WILL RECALL FROM THE FINAL REPORT OF THE CITES CONFERENCE (YOUR TELNO 208 OF 20 OCTOBER 1989) THAT THE LAUSANNE CONFERENCE VOTED FOR THE RE-LISTING OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT ON APPENDIX I OF CITES, IE A BAN ON COMMERCIAL TRADE IN IVORY, AND AGAINST ANY TRADE IN EXISTING STOCKS OF IVORY.

2.

HONG KONG, WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY 600 TONNES OF LEGALLY IMPORTED IVORY, WORTH SOME PDS STG 80M, HAS ASKED HMG TO ENTER ON ITS BEHALF A SIX MONTH RESERVATION ON THIS RE-LISTING WITH EFFECT FROM 18 JANUARY, THE DATE IT IS DUE TO COME INTO FORCE. WE SUPPORT THIS REQUEST AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE FINAL STAGE OF

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

3.

ANY RESERVATION WILL BE ENTERED ON EITHER 16 OR 17 JANUARY

BY MEANS OF A DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO THE SWISS EMBASSY IN LONDON.

ALSO WISH TO INFORM THE SWISS MFA AT THE SAME TIME BY MEANS OF

AN EMBASSY DIPLOMATIC NOTE DELIVERED BY A MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF.

WE SHALL SEND YOU THE TEXT TOGETHER WITH OUR PRESS LINE WHICH

WILL SERVE AS A SPEAKING NOTE. THE DOE WILL NOTIFY THE CITES

SECRETARIAT DIRECT.

WE

4.

THE UK PRESS ARE AWARE THAT A RESERVATION IS BEING CONSIDERED

AND ALSO AWARE OF THE PROCEDURES FOR ENTERING ONE. IT IS

POSSIBLE THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE PRESS ENQUIRIES. GIVEN THE EXTREME

SENSITIVITY OF THIS ISSUE ALL ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE REFERRED TO NEWS DEPARTMENT WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT.

HURD

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