TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 57

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exported, and that Hong Kong have checked all commercial stocks of

ivory and found no evidence of any having been acquired illegally.

Public concern

OA G

D

13. The discrepancy over the size of the ivory stockpile and the

lack of CITES documents for 116 tonnes of the stockpile are points

which have already been picked up by the press, by conservationist

organisations (eg Sir Christopher Lever's letter of 16 March to the

Prime Mininster) and by Mr Tony Banks MP. A US Congressman has also asked for information about the quantity of ivory exported from Hong

Kong and the number of carvers retrained.

Conclusion

14. Against this background, I therefore suggest that the draft

letters to OD (K) colleagues and the standard letter to MPs should

not only highlight the positive points regarding progress of the

legislation, strict enforcement system and our offer to investigate any evidence of illegal trading, but should also cover the points

where we are open to criticism.

15. Now that ExCo has approved the draft legislation and agreed that it should be introduced into LegCo on 4 April, the inspired PQ

should be tabled as soon as possible.

ARPAN

A R Paul

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