RESTRICTED
CRPS 480
WIORITY
PHER/CAT A
FM F.C.0. 18182AZ
No.01
1 JAN 1974
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TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.31 OF 19 JANUARY 1974.
дом
FOR STUART
IMPORTATION OF WILD LIFE FROM CHINA
1. AS YOU KNOW IN DECEMBER THE BBC BROADCAST A RADIO PROGRAMME ENQUIRY BY PATRICIA PENN ON THIS SUBJECT. THE PROGRAMME DEALT BOTH WITH CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN HONG KONG, BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY ARE KEPT AND THE WAY IN WHICH THEY ARE SLAUGHTERED, AND WITH THE THREAT OF EXTINCTION TO CERTAIN IMPORTED SPECIES. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF LETTERS AND ENQUIRIES FROM MEMBERS CF PARLIAMENT, MINISTERS' CONSTITUENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
2.
WE HAD BEEN CONSIDERING WITH MR ROYLE THE LINE TO TAKE IN REPLY TO THESE ENQUIRIES. OUR INFORMATION IS BASED ON NICHOLS LETTER TO THE ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER DATED 26 JUNE 1973, ON NOTES PROVIDED FOR RIDDELL-SWAN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHICH MISS KELLY BROUGHT BACK FROM HONG KONG AND ON RIDDELL-SWAN'S LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN DATED 5 DECEMBER 1973. NO FINAL SOLUTION WAS REACHED AND WE SHALL HAVE TO SUBMIT AGAIN TO MR BLAKER EARLY NEXT WEEK.
3. THE ONLY FIGURES WE HAVE SEEN ARE THOSE GIVEN IN NICHOLS' LETTER TO THE APA QUOTED ABOVE. THESE SUGGEST A SIZEABLE TRADE. ALL BIRDS (EXCEPT FOR GAME BIRDS) AND MOST OF THE ANIMALS INCLUDED IN THIS TRADE APPEAR TO BE CONSERVED WITHIN HONG KONG ITSELF. SOME, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM, ARE LISTED IN THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FLORA AND FAUNA AND YOU HAVE NOW BANNED AS FROM 1 JANUARY THE IMPORTATION OF THE THREATENED SPECIES LISTED IN THAT CONVENTION BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE ANIMALS AND BIRDS (RESTRICTIONS OF IMPORT AND POSSESSION) ORDINANCE. AS FAR AS THE UK IS CONCERNED WE HAVE SIGNED BUT NOT YET RATIFIED THE CONVENTION. WE DO HOWEVER OPERATE CERTAIN CONTROLS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF RARS LIVE ANIMALS AND THEIR RECOGNISED PARTS AND PRODUCTS. IN ADDITION, WE BAN THE IMPORTATION OF ALL BIRDS OF PREY AND THE COMMON QUAIL.
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