TNAG-2130-FCO40-3045-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 26

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COD

2

OJZ

CJOH

CA'D

(1) if ivory is being smuggled to other countries in this region, such as China, South Korea or Taiwan, then the fact that Hong Kong's stock is still available for export, because of our reservation, means less in incentive for the sale of Kenya

poached ivory,

ivory, in the face of competition from

(g)

(h)

-

a large supply of legal ivory from Hong Kong:

as to Leakey's contention that Hong Kong's reservation has a part to play in Kenya's poaching, this just does not seem to make any sense. If poached ivory is being smuggled out of Kenya for sale "in the Far East", where in the Far East, is it supposed to be smuggled out to?

Richard Leakey's planned announcement is possibly a smoke-screen to hide Kenya's inability to tackle poaching effectively, using Hong Kong's reservation as an excuse. His claim concerning a recent upsurge of poaching seems to be an admission that in fact a world wide ban on trade in ivory does not stop poaching, and thus, if anything, confirms the view we took on this issue prior to the recent CITES decisions.

This line may need to be modified in the light of whatever 'evidence' Leakey may be able to produce. Certainly (g) and (h) above will need to be used with caution.

2.

Meanwhile, thanks for your fax LO 81

do you

have anything on the exchange in the Lords on 12 February?

Regovan

co

SPO TC

ARC/ch

Tam

Clark

(A R Clark}

for Secretary for Economic Services

TOTAL P.OR