TNAG-2133-FCO40-3048-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 90

(

CODE

18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Furness

HKD

I aquee with your proposed

Amendmen

Mr Muchmore DRA DOE

Fi

Reference

HKC ISI

ايا

D IN

ISTRY

1990

m

Laren

305

HONG KONG STATEMENT TO CITES ON SURVEY OF IVORY TRADE LEGISLATION

1. I attach copies of correspondence from Hong Kong about the CITES Ivory Notification.

2. The Hong Kong redraft looks fine with one exception. Although Hong Kong introduced on 13 October 1989 a requirement that all commcercial ivory and personal ivory in excess of 5kg should be registered to obtain possession licences. But this legislation did not come into effect (and licences mandatory) until 12 January, as indicated in Hong Kong telno 317 of 24 January. It is not therefore strictly accurate, in my view, for Hong Kong to tell CITES that possession licensing in effect came into force in October last year. Some more detail is required such as 'On 13 October Hong Kong introduced a legal requirement for possession licences for both commercial ivory and personal effects in excess of 5kg, and this legislatio came into effect, and licences became mandatory, on 12 January 1990' ie the wording from para 3 of telno 317.

3. I should be grateful for your urgent comments.

way.

Julian Evans

ESED

E011

x2627

CONFIDENT I AL

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