TNAG-2130-FCO40-3045-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 4

RESTRICTED

043335

MDHOAN 463

THE TERRITORY. THEY HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT THE STOCKS WERE

ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED. UNQUOTE

WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING ANSWER TO QUESTION 1453 AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS ACCURATE AND ACCEPTABLE.

4.

QUOTE THE LATEST FIGURE OF IVORY STOCK (TO THE NEAREST TONNE) WE

HAVE IS:

(I) AVAILABLE FOR TRADE

(II) NOT AVAILABLE FOR TRADE

WORKED

102

46

RAW

TOTAL

254

356

70

116

THESE FIGURES VARY FROM THOSE GIVEN ON 2 FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF EXPORTS SINCE THEN OF 1.97 TONNES OF IVORY. THE REASON WHY THESE FIGURES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN GIVEN IN MY ANSWER OF 20 JULY 1989 IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE EARLIER FIGURES WERE BASED ON VOLUNTARY DECLARATIONS BY TRADERS WHICH BY THEIR NATURE WERE ONLY APPROXIMATE, BEFORE LAWS WERE INTRODUCED REQUIRING POSSESSION LICENCES. FURTHERMORE SOME 50 TONNES WERE EXPORTED, IN ADDITION TO LOCAL SALES. THE INTRODUCTION OF LICENCES ENABLED THE

AUTHORITIES TO PRODUCE ACCURATE FIGURES.

5. ON EXPORTS SINCE THE RESERVATION WAS ENTERED, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THE SITUATION IS AS FOLLOWS: UP TO 26 FEBRUARY 0.017 TONNES TO TAIWAN

0.208 TONNES TO SOUTH KOREA

FROM 26 FEBRUARY - 7 MARCH A FURTHER 1.745 TONNES, BRINGING TOTAL EXIMPORTED SINCE THE RESERVATION TO 1.97 TONNES (PARA 1 OF YOUR

TELNO 839).

6. SEIZURES. DOES THE FIGURE OF 47.5 KG REPRESENT THE TOTAL SEIZED SINCE THE RESERVATION WAS ENTERED QUERY

HURD

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