TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 179

DRAFT LETTER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER

TO

Sir Christopher Lever BT

Vice-President

International Trust for Nature Conservation

c/o Assistant Director

Royal Geographical Society

1 Kensington Gore

LONDON

SW7 2AR

Thank you for your further letter of 16 March about the Hong Kong ivory stocks.

For example some

when CITES documentation

Of the registered stockpile, which now stands at 472 tonnes, it is true that 116 tonnes does not have CITES documentation. This does not necessarily mean that the stocks were imported illegally. may have been imported before 1976 was not required. And CITES documents may have become detached from their ivory for a number of reasons, not least because the carvers are not a well educated profession and might not, in the past, have recognised the importance of the paper. The Hong Kong authorities have inspected all ivory stocks held in Hong Kong and have found no evidence of illegal importation. are presented with any evidence that some stocks are illegal, they will investigate it vigorously.

If they

And in any event, no export licences will be granted

for ivory without proper CITES documentation.

the

Trade in

116 tonnes without CITES documents will therefore

be impossible.