TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 112

FROM WWF

UK

WWF World Wide Fund

For Nature

Our Ref : SL/aw

Date: 16 July 1990

Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, MP,

Prime Minister,

10 Downing Street,

LONDON, SW1.

01.01. 1908

BLUTUS

WWF United Kingdom

Panda House Weyside Park Catleshall Lane

Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR Telephone (0483) 426444 Telex: 859602

Fax. (0483) 426409

Dear Prime Minister,

On 17 July the six month ivory reservation for Hong Kong

Hong Kong comes to an end. A letter to our Hong Kong office from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Hong Kong, copy attached, indicates that the Hong Kong Government plans to continue to allow exports, without a permit, of pieces of ivory weighing

kilos less than 5

This personal as

effects.

would be dr Since the UK 18 violation of the rules of the CITES Convention. the Contracting Party to CITES on behalf of Hong Kong, the UK has a responsibility to ensure that llong Kong complies fully with the Convention.

We

statistics.

The

are, naturally, greatly concerned by what is likely to happen to the 469 tonnes of ivory apparently

apparently still in Hong Kong according to official

recent seizures by confirms our Japanese customs officers of ivory from long Kong fears that controls on ivory shipments from Hong Kong are insufficient staff to make the inadequate and that there are ivory registration system in Hong Kong fully effective. Continued illegal trade is clearly а very high risk, and we would, therefore, urge you

persuade Hong Kong to take the following measures :

1.

to

Withdraw its proposal to allow exports without a permit

pieces of

of

than ivory weighing less

5 kilos as personal

effects.

continued over

Registered Chanty No. 201707 VAT No. 244 25°C 81

International President

HRH The Duke of Edinburghs KG KT President.

HRH Princess Alexodia

the Hon. Lady Ogilvy GCVO

Chairman J.M.K. Laing Director George J. Medicy ORI

DOC DIGIM LIČEKA