TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 116

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 553

OF 14180OZ MARCH 90

thic will нис

RECEIVED IN

IN

INOLA

3 0 MAR 1990

150

YOUR TELNO 886: IVORY: PQS

1

THANK YOU FOR THIS MATERIAL.

TRY

A

стья

064064 MDHOAN 5062

2.

IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT YOU NOW ADVISE US THAT WE NEED TO INTRODUCE THE WORD QUOTE COMMERCIAL UNQUOTE WHEN DESCRIBING WHICH STOCKS OF IVORY YOU HAVE INSPECTED. WE HAVE USED THE ORIGINAL FORMULATION IN A NUMBER OF PARLIAMENTARY REPLIES BECAUSE YOU TOLD US IN PARA 1 (F) IF YOUR TELNO 288 THAT THIS WAS THE CASE: THE CHANGE WILL BE PICKED UP AND EXPLOITED BY CRITICS OF YOUR POLICY.

WE NOTE THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING RELAXING THE REQUIREMENT FOR POSSESSION LICENCES FOR PERSONAL HOLDINGS. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN IN PRACTICE NOR WHAT PURPOSE THIS WOULD SERVE. SEEN FROM HERE, THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR NOT (NOT) INTRODUCING SUCH A RELAXATION, SINCE ANY DILUTION OF THE PRESENT REGIME WOULD PRESENT FRESH AMMUNITION TO THOSE WHO HAVE CAMPAIGNED AGAINST THE RESERVATION. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 260 MPS' LETTERS AND 2500 FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THIS ISSUE: ALL OF THEM AGAINST OUR ACTION. AND YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THAT BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE QUICK TO SEIZE ON ANY

DISCREPENCIES.

·

4. UNLESS THERE ARE OVERRIDING REASONS FOR RELAXATION, WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE LICENCE FOR PERSONAL HOLDINGS UNTIL AT LEAST AFTER THE RESERVATION CEASES TO HAVE EFFECT.

5. WE APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTIES OVER DETAILED BREAKDOWN. HENCEFORTH IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO QUOTE THE TOTALS ACCORDING TO EXPORT LICENCES ISSUED.

HURD

YYYY

1

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