§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Chinese authorities on his recent visit 625W regarding the future protection of endangered species in Hong Kong. [12335]
§ Mr. HanleyThe Chinese agreed in December 1991 that the United Nations convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora—CITES—would continue to apply to Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty on 1 July 1997. Hong Kong's strict customs controls and legislation on endangered species will also continue to apply. Therefore, no such representations were made, since these would not have added to the strong safeguards that already exist.