TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 178

CONFIDENTIAL

246

151045

MDHIAN 8949

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2231

OF 16113OZ JULY 90

CHAC

90

TOP COPY

OUR TELNO 2197 : ALLEGED BREACH OF CITES

1 I HAVE NOW APPROVED THE MAKING OF THE AMENDMENT ORDER FAXED TO

FURNESS HKD. THE ORDER WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (17 JULY 1990) AND

IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. AT A MEETING WITH THE

ADMINISTRATION THIS MORNING, THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON IVORY ACCEPTED THE NEED FOR THE AMENDMENT ORDER, BUT CAUTIONED THAT WE WERE LIKELY TO FACE CONTINUING PROTESTS AND PRESSURE FROM THE IVORY TRADERS AND WORKSHOP OPERATORS.

2. TOMORROW WE WILL HOLD PRESS BRIEFINGS FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF

THE UK PRESS IN HONG KONG AND FOR THE LOCAL MEDIA. AT THE FIRST WE

WISH TO EMPHASISE THAT HONG KONG LEGISLATION IS FULLY IN LINE WITH AND INDEED, IN SOME ASPECTS MORE STRINGENT THAN, THE CITES CONVENTION. THE SECOND WILL FOCUS MORE ON EXPLAINING TO THE LOCAL PRESS THE EFFECTS OF THE EXPIRY OF THE RESERVATION ON 18 JULY 1990.

3. IN THIS CONNECTION, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT SPECIFIC CONTROLS WILL BE APPLIED IN THE UK AND/OR THE EEC IN RESPECT OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF PERSONAL EFFECTS AND TOURIST SOUVENIRS, IN CASE WE ARE ASKED FOR SUCH INFORMATION BY THE PRESS HERE. GRATEFUL FOR REPLY DESKBY 17040OZ.

4. AS WE HAVE NOW TAKEN THE STEPS TO BRING OUR LOCAL LAW INTO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLE VII.3(A), GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ACCORDINGLY WITHDRAW THE RESERVATION ON OUR BEHALF.

WILSON

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL