TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 124

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From: E J Hughes, MAED

Date: 23 February 1990

cc: PS/Mr Maude

Mr Bayne

Mr Gilmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Paul HKD

Mr Edis EAD

29.2

WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE

Ministe

litter,

PS/Mr Waldegrave

Private Secretary

HONG KONG IVORY: STANDARD REPLY

News Dept Mr Slater

Problem

1.

Should we change our standard reply to letters about the Hong

Kong ivory stocks in light of allegations made by Dr Richard Leakey

of the Kenya Wildlife Department that the Reservation has led directly to increased poaching?

[Insut]

Recommendation

2. I recommend that we do not change our standard reply.

HKD and the Department of the Environment concur.

Background

3. In my minute of 21 February I reported that Dr Richard Leakey of the Kenyan Wildlife Department had claimed that the six-month

exemption had led directly to an increase in poaching in Africa.

Reports from our posts in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam, and comments

from Hong Kong, indicate that this is a simplistic view and that

there are a number of other reasons why poaching may have increased.

And Hong Kong have assured us once again that there have been no

imports of ivory. Nevertheless, Dr Leakey is influential and

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