TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 190

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 13113OZ FCO

TELNO 2197

OF 131015Z JULY 90

CONFIDENTIAL

!

145370 MDHIAN 8734

PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR TELNO 1329 AND MY TELNO 2149 : ALLEGED BREACH OF CITES

1 I HAVE NOW CONCLUDED THAT THE RIGHT COURSE IS TO AMEND THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) EXEMPTION ORDER TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH THE TERMS OF ARTICLE VII.3(A). IN EFFECT THIS WILL MEAN THAT THE EXPORT OF IVORY ITEMS PURCHASED IN HONG KONG BY OVERSEAS VISITORS AS PERSONAL EFFECTS MUST BE LICENSED IN ALL CASES. A COPY OF THE DRAFT AMENDMENT ORDER IS BEING FAXED TO FURNESS HKD. IT WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON 17 JULY 1990. THE ASSUMPTION IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR IS CORRECT.

2. YOU WILL WISH TO KNOW THAT, AS PART OF OUR PUBLICITY ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMING INTO EFFECT OF THE AMENDED LEGISLATION ON 17 JULY, WE INTEND TO GIVE IN-DEPTH BRIEFING TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UK PRESS IN HONG KONG. THIS WILL EMPHASISE THAT HONG KONG LEGISLATION IS FULLY IN LINE WITH THE CITES CONVENTION. INDEED, IN SOME ASPECTS IT IS MORE STRINGENT, EG THE REQUIREMENT FOR POSSESSION AND EXPORT LICENCES IN RESPECT OF PERSONAL EFFECTS OF 5 KG OR MORE IN WEIGHT.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

35

LIMITED

HKD

ESED

LEGAL ADVISERS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

35

PS

PS/MR MAUDE

MR MCLAREN

1

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CONFIDENTIAL