TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 177

Mr Hughes, MAED

Hong Kong Ivory

I have seen your minute of 3 April with a draft letter from the Prime Minister to Sir Christopher Lever. Mr Waldegrave has commented on this that he thinks we are on very thin ice defending the 116 tons. Before I show this to the Secretary of State, I should like, if possible, to make the ice a little thicker. I have spoken to Mr Stone in Hong Kong Dept (because I was unable to raise either you or Mr Evans) and I have asked him to discover from Hong Kong:

(a) whether we really have grounds to believe that some of the stocks may have been

acquired before 1976; and

(b) whether any more can be said about the extent to which the Hong Kong authorities have inspected the stocks for evidence of illegal importation.

4 April 1990

Cc:

PS/Mr Waldegrave

Mr Stone, Hong Kong Dept

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