TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 119

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 09100OZ FCO

TELNO 1518

OF 090845Z MAY 90

217

YOUR TELNO 930: IVORY PQ'S

RESTRICTED

075421

MDHIAN 9770

Hire 15/1

RL.

TO MAY 1990

IN

1. WE HAVE CONSIDERED YOUR ALTERNATIVE WORDING TO QUESTION 1864. WHILE WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF DISPOSING OF THESE ITEMS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, YOUR WORDING COMMITS US TO THAT SITUATION FOREVER. WE AGREE, THOUGH, THAT OUR VERSION COULD BE MORE POSITIVE, HOWEVER, AND SUGGEST INSTEAD ...HAS NO INTENTION OF OFFERING THE ITEMS FOR SALE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.'

2. THIS WOULD THUS COVER THE SITUATION WHERE AN EVENTUAL DOWNGRADING BY CITES OF THE SPECIES CONCERNED WOULD ALLOW PROPER DISPOSAL.

3=

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT WWF HAS IN THE PAST SOUGHT THAT FUNDS GENERATED BY SUCH SALES GO TOWARDS CONSERVATION CAUSES, AND IF THIS IS CORRECT IT DEMONSTRATES THAT EVEN WWF IS NOT ENTIRELY AGAINST SUCH SALES.

4.

INTERESTINGLY, THIS SAME QUESTION MUST BE FACING MANY ELEPHANT RANGE STATES, WHEREBY THEY ARE ACCUMULATING CONFISCATED IVORY STOCKS WHICH ARE UNSALEABLE AT PRESENT. WE DOUBT WHETHER SUCH STATES WOULD BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT SUCH STOCKS WOULD NEVER BE SOLD OR AUCTIONED, AND WE THEREFORE WISH TO ADOPT A SIMILAR POSITION.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

20

MINIMAL

HKD

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DISTRIBUTION

20

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