TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 54

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that:

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(a)

the Secretary of State should write to Cabinet colleagues

in terms of the draft at Annex A;

(b) an inspired PQ on the lines of the draft at Annex B should

be tabled for written answer as soon as possible; and

(c) the standard reply to MPs and members of the public should

be revised on the lines of the draft at Annex C.

MAED agree.

Background

AB 3.

Mr Peirce's commissioning minutes of 5 and 12 March are

attached.

Progress with legislation

4. The Hong Kong Government are making good progress with their

draft legislation. It was presented to ExCo on 20 March and is due

to have its first reading in LegCo on 4 April. It should be

possible to enact legislation by early May. The Hong Kong

Government do not expect any serious opposition to the Bill.

decision to accede to Hong Kong's request to enter the Reservation

should make the task of getting LegCo to endorse the necessary

legislation much easier.

Licensing and Monitoring Arrangements

Our

5. The Hong Kong Government have taken various measures to deter

illegal trading and to enhance controls over existing stocks, including the introduction of a statutory requirement for possession licenses for all ivory over 5 kilogrammes with effect from 12

January.

Hong Kong's licensing and monitoring measures are amongst

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