Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
Miss E Kettle
217 Wearer Street
Winsford
Cheshire
Telephone 01-
Your reference
Our reference
Date
19 July 1974
REF.
(160)
135)
You wrote to the Prime Minister recently about cruelty to dogs in Hong Kong. I have been asked to reply.
We have consulted the Governor of Hong Kong about this. The eating of dogs is a traditional Southern Chinese custom and rests on a deep-rooted belief that dog flesh has special nutritious value. Nevertheless, it is illegal to slaughter dogs for human consumption in Hong Kong and both the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals prosecute any cases which become known to them. But it is a custom which they have not found easy to eradicate.
The law in Hong Kong is clear. Under the provisions of Regulation 22 of the Dogs and Cats Regulations (CAP 167), no person is permitted to slaughter any dog for use as food, whether for human consumption or otherwise. No person can sell or use, or permit the sale or use of, the flesh of dogs for food. Any person who is found in possession of the carcass of any dog, or any part thereof, in such circumstances as would reasonably give rise to a belief that such dog was being or had been slaughtered or sold or used for food in breach of the Regulation is found guilty of an offence unless he is able to satisfy a magistrate that he has not in fact committed any breach. Any person who contravenes the Regulation is liable to a fine of HKS 1,000 (approximately £83) and to imprisonment for six months. The actual fine, of course, depends on the judgement of the magistrate.
Cruelty to animals is prohibited in Hong Kong under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (ČAP 169). Any person who inflicts or permits cruelty to animals is liable on summary conviction to a fine of HKS 1,000 and to imprisonment for six months. The Hong Kong Government take a serious view of cruelty and whenever any evidence is available, prosecution is instituted in every case.
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