TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 99

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MDHIAN 2225

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 152

OF 120745Z JANUARY 90

10

HKCISI

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 JAN 1990

*K OFFICE

तप

YOUR TELNO 101: HONG KONG AND THE IVORY TRADE

TOP

C

1. THE HONG KONG STANDARD ARTICLE QUOTES LEE CHI, THE WORKERS' UNION CHAIRMAN, AS SAYING MANY WORKERS HAD FOUND ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT AND LEE CHAT, THE TRADERS ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN, AS

SAYING MANY IVORY SHOPS HAD SHUT.

2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT LEE CHI HAS SINCE BEEN REMOVED AS UNION CHAIRMAN AND IS LIKELY TO BE REPLACED BY A MORE QUOTE MILITANT

UNQUOTE REPRESENTATIVE.

3. IN ANY CASE, THE HK STANDARD ARTICLE WAS AN ISOLATED CASE. ON THE CONTRARY, THERE HAVE BEEN REGULAR REPORTS MAINLY IN THE CHINESE PRESS ON THE CONTINUED DISSATISFACTION IN THE INDUSTRY. ON 8 JANUARY, FOR EXAMPLE, A GROUP OF SMALL IVORY CARVERS/TRADERS SAW THE LEGCO GROUP. THIS, AND THEIR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LACK OF PROGRESS WAS WIDELY REPORTED IN THE CHINESE PRESS.

4. WE CAN THUS THEREFORE EXPECT CONTINUING PRESSURE FROM WORKERS, TRADERS AND LEGCO.

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