TNAG-2131-FCO40-3046-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 89

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DESIGNED TO ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE.

112206

MDLIAN 8539

BOTH CONGRESSMEN SEEMED MUCH REASSURED, PARTICULARLY BEILENSON, WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A MEETING HAD HE KNOWN THAT THE RESERVATION WAS FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS AND WOULD NOT BE RENEWED. HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND UNDERTOOK TO LET US KNOW OF ANY INFORMATION WHICH CAME HIS WAY ABOUT ILLEGAL IMPORTS OF IVORY TO

HONG KONG. FIELDS ASKED FOR INFORMATION ON THE QUANTITIES OF IVORY (RAW AND CARVED) EXPORTED FROM HONG KONG SINCE THE RESERVATION BEGAN, AND FOR ANY DETAILS ON NUMBERS OF CARVERS RETRAINED. GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG COULD PROVIDE THIS.

5.

FIELDS MENTIONED THAT HE HAD BEEN CONSIDERING TRYING TO BRING PRESSURE ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT NO ILLEGAL IVORY ENTERS OR LEAVES THE TERRITORY BY INTRODUCING (OR THREATENING TO INTRODUCE) A BILL TO INHIBIT IMPORTS OF FISH TO THE US FROM HONG KONG, THOUGH HIS STAFF NOW TELL US THAT IN THE LIGHT OF OUR EXPLANATIONS ANY SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD BE AIMED AT THE PRC RATHER THAN HONG KONG. THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE IS ALREADY CONSIDERING LEGISLATION (HR132, INTRODUCED BY THE RANKING REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE SUB COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN DON YOUNG (ALASKA), A CLOSE FRIEND OF BEILENSON) DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE QUOTE PELLY AMENDMENT UNQUOTE. THIS AMENDMENT (WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN ENFORCED) AUTHORISES THE

PRESIDENT TO IMPOSE A 20 PER CENT REDUCTION IN FISH AND WILDLIFE

IMPORTS FROM COUNTRIES WHICH HE HAS CERTIFIED AS NOT SUPPORTING

INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS. A BILL TO

STRENGTHEN THE AMENDMENT PASSED THE SENATE IN THE LAST CONGRESS, BUT DIED IN THE HOUSE (FOR UNRELATED REASONS). THE NEW BILL WOULD EXPAND THE TRADE SANCTION TO ANY PRODUCTS, AND MAKE IT AUTOMATIC.

6.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE BILL WILL GET VERY FAR THIS

TIME. WILDLIFE PRESERVATION IS QUOTE MOTHERHOOD UNQUOTE ON THE HILL. ANY BILL ATTACKING JAPANESE WHALING, DRIFT NET FISHING OR ILLEGAL IVORY IMPORTS INTO CHINA WOULD COMMAND CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT. A HEARING IS DUE TO BE HELD IN LATE APRIL, POSSIBLY LEADING ON TO A MARK-UP, WITH SOME PROSPECT OF A BILL BEING REPORTED OUT OF COMMITTEE. THIS WOULD NOT GUARANTEE ACTION ON

THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

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