RESTRICTED
YOU DO APPEAR TO HAVE ADEQUATE LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MAINLY ONE OF ENFOR INT WHICH IS AT PRESENT DEFECTIVE. YOUR NEW LEGISLATION IMPOSING STRICTER
CONTROLS OVER THE ANIMAL TRADERS WHOULD HELP. GRATEFUL TO KNOW
WHETHER THESE NEW CONTROLS ARE YET IN OPERATION.
5. IT THEREFORE APPEARS THAT HONG KONG IS NOW MORE RESTRICTIVE
THAN THE UK IN BANNING THE IMPORTATION OF TECHNICALLY THREATENED SPECIES, INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE THE PANGOLIN), BUT THAT THERE IS FREE IMPORTATION OF OTHER SPECIES WHICH ARE NOT IMPORTED TO OR EATEN IN THE. UK, INCLUDING SOME WHICH ARE PROTECTED INSIDE HONG KONG
ITSELF. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE TRUE THAT THESE SPECIES ARE NOT AT
PRESENT EFFECTIVELY PROTECTED FROM CRUEL TREATMENT WHEN THEY ARE
IMPORTED. DURING THE BROADCAST NICHOLS SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OF ENFORCING THE CRUELTY LEGISLATION, IT MIGHT BE LESS
DIFFICULT TO BAN THE TRADE ALTOGETHER. IS THIS A STARTER? WOULD IT
BE POSSIBLE, FOR EXAMPLE TO BAN THE IMPORTATION OF SPECIES THAT ARE
ALREADY PROTECTED INSIDE HONG KONG ?.
6.
YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS AN EMOTIVE SUBJECT HERE.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS.
DOUGLAS HOME
FILES
HKIOD
STD
LEGAL ADVISERS
**
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON ST W1
2.
RESTRICTED
: