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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
8 March, 1974
6.3
Mr. Davies wrote to you on 18 February to let you know that we were consulting the Governor of Hong Kong about the letter from your constituent, Mrs. O. M. Hume of 48 Oakfield Avenue, Kenton, Harrow, about the question of the slaughter of cattle in Hong Kong.
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We have now received a copy of Hong Kong's legislation governing the slaughtering of animals. This is enclosed. Cattle are humanely despatched in Hong Kong. The captive bolt pistol method is employed. After slaughter the heads are severed from the carcases during the dressing process. The severed heads are then often taken away to butchers' shops and market stalls, where the shopkeepers remove the brains for consumption. Hong Kong think it is likely that the cow's head referred to in the radio programme which Mrs. Hume heard had been discarded by one of the smaller market meat-stalls and was awaiting collection.
I trust this information answers Mrs. Hume's enquiry.
Anthony Grant, Esq., M.P.,
House of Commons,
London, S.W.1.
M. R. J. Guest
Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State