TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 87

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27 JUN 1990

YOUR TELNO 1176:

IVORY

1.

WE HAVE MET SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE OMELCO AD HOC GROUP ON IVORY, THE MOST RECENTLY BEING 20 JUNE.

2. THE AD-HOC GROUP'S CONCERNS NOW FOCUS ON TWO AREAS: RETRAINING OF IVORY CARVERS, AND THE POSITION OF DOMESTIC WORK SHOP OPERATORS.

3.

REGARDING THE FIRST OF THESE, WE HAVE SECURED PLACES ON EXISTING VTC/CITA TRAINING COURSES FOR IVORY CARVERS. THE COURSES RANGE FROM ACQUISITION OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SKILLS, THROUGH JEWELLERY MANUFACTURE TO HOTEL TRADE SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE RESPONDED TO A REQUEST FROM THE IVORY CARVERS UNION, AND THE OMELCO AD HOC GROUP, TO STAGE DEDICATED PART-TIME COURSES FOR UP TO 240 IVORY CARVERS TO LEARN HORN AND BONE CARVING. THIS WILL BE A NEW VENTURE FOR VTC AND ONLY IVORY CARVERS ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEND. IF

THERE IS SUFFICIENT DEMAND WE SHALL RUN REPEATS OF THIS COURSE. ATTENDEES ARE PAID DOLLARS 2,400 PM SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE. WE ARE GOING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE DOLLARS 5.8 MILLION INVOLVED FOR

ALL TRAINING AND SUBSISTENCE COSTS ON 29 JUNE.

4. REGARDING THE SECOND CONCERN, REPRESENTATIVES OF DOMESTIC

WORKSHOP OPERATORS HAVE ASKED FOR COMPENSATION AND FOR INTEREST

FREE LOANS OVER 10 YEARS TO ALLOW THEM TO BECOME ESTABLISHED IN OTHER BUSINESSES. THESE OPERATORS ARE TYPICALLY FAMILY-BASED

CARVING OPERATIONS WHICH HOLD FAIRLY SMALL STOCKS SEMI COLON THEIR

MAIN METHOD OF OPERATION IS TO BE GIVEN A PIECE OF IVORY BY A TRADER, AND TO CHARGE FOR THE CARVING UNDERTAKEN. WE HAVE REJECTED CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION AND LOANS AND HAVE ADVISED BOTH OPERATORS'

REPRESENTATIVES AND OMELCO.

5. AT THE 20 JUNE MEETING, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AD HOC GROUP, ANDREW WONG, INDICATED THAT WE COULD EXPECT TO SEE THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL RESUMED ON 11 JULY OR POSSIBLY 4 JULY. EITHER

WILL ALLOW US SUFFICIENT TIME TO IMPLEMENT THE BAN. WE SHALL KEEP

YOU INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS.

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