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problem with the Chinese authorities. The Chinese Government already pay great attention to the protection of their own wildlife resources, and they have now undertaken to look into this question.

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 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 on the main traders to ensure that the physical state o the imported animals is satisfactory and that the conditions in whi they are kept are up to standard. The Government are also increas their direct effort to inspect restaurant premises to detect and prevent cruelty to animals.

The effectiveness of any reasures in this field will of cou depend, as elsen here, in the degree of public cooperatio forthcoming. But I think that all this indicated that the Kons Bovernment ene ell amore of the prot

980 ponovere, and have heer tekinn enigmat measures

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Fronary - Rober

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вовий

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