TNAG-2823-FCO40-4073-Hong-Kong-Ramsar-Convention-on-Wetlands-of-International-Imp-1993 — Page 5

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Date:

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Foreign & Commonwealth

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1993

Telephone: 071-

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PA

Action Taken

270-2655

J Ashton Esq

DPA

Political Adviser's Office

HONG KONG

Dear John,

RASMAR CONVENTION

1. I enclose a self explanatory minute from ESED on whether the fifth RAMSAR convention meeting would be a good place to begin discussion with the Chines eon designating MaiPo and the Inner Deep Bay a Wetland of International Importance.

2. As you may be aware this is a question with some history and is connected to the boundary question.

3. I should be grateful for your views and advice.

You eve

RAJ Bunten

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25-JARFI900|

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J Sheldon HKD

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dur Bunsen

1993

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eJ20/5 28/5

INDEX

PA Action Taken

We spoke

RAMSAR CONVENTION: FIFTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES, KUSHIRO, JAPAN, 9-16 JUNE

1.

We spoke. As you know Hong Kong will be attending this meeting as part of the UK delegation. This will be particularly useful given the Asian focus of the conference.

2. However, there will undoubtedly be discussion about the possible designation of wetland sites in Hong Kong as Wetlands of International Importance, in particular the Mai Po Marshes and Inner Deep Bay. This would clearly require extensive discussions with the Chinese and I imagine that any undertaking to advance the designation of this site would have to be given jointly with the Chinese. (China has recently become a contracting party to Ramsar and its adjoining site of Fu Tien Nature Reserve was on the original list of candidate Ramsar sites to accompany her accession to the Convention.)

3.

The Department of the Environment have therefore sought guidance from us as to whether it would be appropriate to discuss this with the Chinese at this meeting. Any such discussion would be largely of a technical nature among representatives from the various Environment Ministries. However, there would be a requirement for Hong Kong to show that it has the necessary domestic legislation in place to protect a site before it can be ratified as a designated Ramsar site. This would draw the question of domestic legislation into the discussions.

My view is that this would

be useful opportunity to take this forward but I would welcome your views, and those of FED and Legal Advisers to whom I am copying this minute.

Frances Macleod

FA MacLeod

ESED

4 M 201

210-0435

28 May 1993

L Bristow Smith, FED

Ms Barrett, Legal Advisers

TOTAL P.02