TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 62

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Mr Hughes MAED

Hong Kong Ivory: Standard Reply

The Secretary of State has seen your submission of

6 March. He disagrees and would like a new, strengthened standard reply which should say:

a.

b.

c.

That Hong Kong is on schedule with its legislation;

That ivory is intercepted effectively;

That we have already said that we will investigate any evidence of complicity by Hong Kong traders in illegal trading in ivory.

The Secretary of State would also like a written answer in the House of Commons once ExCo has passed the legislation on to LegCo: if I am not mistaken this has already happened so a written answer should be submitted urgently.

12 March 1990

CC:

PS/Mr Waldegrave PS/Mr Maude

Mr Bayne

Mr Slater

Mr McLaren

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Edis, EAD

News Dept

Special Advisers (x 2)

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(R N Peirce)