TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 154

As far as the livelihood of the carvers is concerned our stud.es show that. There most of them are now relatively old men in their fifties and sixties, are now less than 1,000 of them. It has long been recognised in Hong kong that ivory carving is a dying craft. Undoubtedly these people could be helped

Garve in other materials: jade and synthetic ivory for example supplying flourishing carving industries elsewhere in Asia.

to

are

By yielding to pressure in Hong Kong to take out a reservation on its behalf, the British Government would be giving a windfall to the small handful of already rich ivory criminals. Yet it would fail to give a real helping hand to the relatively poorly-paid carvers, for whom one certainly has much greater sympathy. I need hardly reiterate the damage that such a decision would have on the international image of the United kingdom Government as responsible international conservationists.

I would be very happy to let you have any further details if you feel this could be helpful. I would be extremely grateful if you could convey these facts and my concerns to the Foreign Secretary before he leaves for Hong Kong, and also to your namesake, the Secretary of State for the Environment, whose jurisdiction the decision lies.

With many thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Seffen Call Янли

Stephen Cobb: D. Phil

within

Sercot Helios, Environment &

lopment