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There is the further problem of the condition of the animals and birds when imported, and their treatment within Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government have enacted Regulations which impose strict control over the trade in live animals and birds and which lay down strict standards which will have to be met before any licence is issued to traders. These requirements include high standards of animal housing, management and feeding, and the segregation of sick, vicious or incompatible animals and birds whilst they are in a trader's care. Hawking of animals and birds is also now illegal. I enclose a copy of the Code of Conduct issued under these Regulations.
All this should improve considerably the conditions under which such animals are kept. The Hong Kong Government intend to enforce the regulations strictly and have recently instituted. daily inspections of the main traders to ensure that the physical state of the imported animals is satisfactory and that the conditions in which they are kept are up to standard. The Government are also increasing their direct effort to inspect restaurant premises to detect and prevent cruelty to animals.
The effectiveness of any measures in this field will of course depend, as elsewhere, in the degree of public co-operation which is forthcoming. But I think that all this indicates that the Hong Kong Government are well aware of the problems and have been taking prompt measures to deal with them.
A L Wotton
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Dept.