香港政府漁農處

九龍廣東道三九三號 廣東道政府合署十三樓

本處檔號 OUR REF.:

CR 11/710

來函檔號 YOUR REF.:

HKK 7/1

Tel. No.: 3-688|||

電報掛號

RECEIVED

Address; AGFISH HONG KONG

REGISTRY N 52

13 SEP 1974

All replies must be addressed to Director of

Agriculture and Fisheries 覆函請寄交「漁農處處長」

185

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

DEPARTMENT

Canton Road Government Offices

393 Canton Road

12th floor

Kowloon, Hong Kong

6th September 1974

Dear Stant

**

189

In Wotton

Now

ow we can write to Mo Tu

Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife

Having returned from the UK earlier this week after

an absence of some seven weeks, I was appalled to find your letter of 24th July, addressed to me, remaining unanswered. I have spoken with the officers concerned who should have been able to deal with it with a minimum of delay in my absence and all I can do is sincerely apologise for their incompetence.

The question of the Giant Salamanders appearing on the price-lists of the China Wildlife Company in Hong Kong has

At the been the subject of investigation by my Department. time of investigation only two Giant Salamanders were held by that Company, both of which had been obtained prior to the introduction of the extended legislation which now controls their importation and possession. As is usual prior to instigating proceedings to prosecute, legal advice was obtained from Crown law officers and we have been advised that we cannot take action to prosecute as, due to the fact that no permit was required to import animals before the 1st January 1974, the Company is not in contravention of the law.

1/1

The China Wildlife Company has been advised, however, that they are to inform this Department at the time of the disposal of these animals. They have been further informed that it is not proposed to issue permits to import or licences to possess this species and that they should cease forthwith to advertise the availability of this species, the trade of which is at present illegal in Hong Kong.

I cannot recall whether or not I informed you at the time we met briefly in Hong Kong prior to my departure for the UK but, in any event, perhaps it is as well that one puts the following on record. Since the introduction of control legislation the Department has successfully seized several

A disturbing specimens of salamander and effected prosecutions. feature, however, so far as we are concerned is that in seeking to dispose of these animals to zoos in both the UK and the

/Netherlands

A.F. 175

A.C. Stuart, Esq.,

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1., England.

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