TNAG-2297-FCO40-3321-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IRO)-Sub-Gro-1991 — Page 145

CODE 18-77

Reference.

je4

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нисозі

Ms HKD

мабок

Mr Sainty o.r.

I have not had

time to take this forward. DOE comments also attacked.

LM5/4

Tel nut

P.a. GS 157 iv

APPLICATION TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997 OF MULTILATERAL TREATIES

1. I agreed with Mr Sainty that, in his absence this week, I would send you my comments on his minutes of 19 March and 26 March about the application to Hong Kong after 1997 of multilateral treaties in the environment field.

2.

فاکر

I assume, from reading Hong Kong telno 908, that Hong Kong has the right to continue after 1997 its association with Treaties to which China itself is not a party, or vice versa. Despite this I believe that it would make sense for the two positions to be complementary where possible. Certainly, from the environmental standpoint we would not wish Hong Kong to allow to lapse its association with important environmental agreements to which China is a party, eg the Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. This would surely be difficult for us to justify publicly in the run-up to 1997, and would act against Hong Kong's own interests in establishing its 'green' credentials. I have taken this point into account when considering each of the agreements to which Hong Kong telnos 908, 909 and 910 refer.

(8) Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat

We agree

The Hong Kong paper accurately summarises the position. that the Territory should retain its association with this Convention. China is not yet a party but is, we understand, interested in becoming one (China was an observer at the last Ramsar conference in June 1990). WWF have been agitating for some years for Mai Po marshes to be designated a Ramsar site. There would undoubtedly be a fuss if Hong Kong did not continue its association with the Convention.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn)

The Hong Kong paper is accurate. This is an important convention and we agree that Hong Kong should retain its association.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Again an accurate note. China is a CITES party and it would be unacceptable for Hong Kong to relinquish its association with the Convention especially since this would theoretically exempt the ivory stockpile from all CITES export controls.

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