TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 86

CODE 18-77

Mr Stone

HKD

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HKC isik

3 0 MAR 1990

DESK DEFICE INDEX

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HONG KONG IVORY: STANDARD REPLY

12113

1.

We spoke this morning about HKD's draft submission on the standard reply to letters on Hong Kong ivory.

2. Our first submission on this subject went to Ministers on 23 February but we still do not have a Ministerial decision on what our standard reply should be. We now have 97 MPs' Letters and 2600 letters from members of the public awaiting replies.

3. I shall be on two weeks' Leave from 28 March. If we can obtain the Secretary of State's agreement to your redrafted standard reply by 26 March I may be able to clear the backlog of MPs' Letters before I leave. If not, there is no way the two remaining desk officers will be able to do so in my absence and, if POD are unable to provide us with extra staff as requested, we shall have no choice but to ask HKD for assistance. It is clearly therefore in all our interests that your submission reaches the Secretary of State in time for his weekend box, or earlier if possible.

CC: PS

PS/Mr Waldegrave Mr Herridge POD

J

Julian Evans

Maritime, Aviation and Environment Department