S Hicks Animal W 47 Whit. London
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1
Telephone 01- 930 8440
File
心
are Trust
11
* 2B2
Your reference
Our reference
HKK7/1
Date
18 July 1974
LABT
REF.
(139
NE
REF.
You wri·· article cruelty
We have dogs i.. belief is ill.
the Ho. Cruelt it is
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the Re...!
and to
on the
Cruelty Cruelty permit:
the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 28 June about an h appeared in the Sunday People on 23 June concerning logs in Hong Kong. I have been asked to reply.
ulted the Governor of Hong Kong about this. The eating of raditional Southern Chinese custom and rests on a deep-rooted
dog flesh has special nutritious value. Nevertheless, it to slaughter dogs for human consumption in Hong Kong and both ng Government and the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Animals prosecute any cases which become known to them. But tom which they have not found easy to eradicate.
Hong Kong is clear. Under the provisions of Regulation 22 and Cats Regulations (CAP 167), no person is permitted to y dog for use as food, whether for human consumption or
No person can sell or use, or permit the sale or use of, › dogs for food. Any person who is found in possession of of any dog, or any part thereof, in such circumstances as ably give rise to a belief that such dog was being or had Lered or sold or used for food in breach of the Regulation ilty of an offence unless he is able to satisfy a magistrate
not in fact committed any breach. Any person who contravenes ion is liable to a fine of HK$ 1,000 (approximately £83)
sonment for six months. The actual fine, of course, depends ment of the magistrate.
animals is prohibited in Hong Kong under the Prevention of Animals Ordinance (CAP 169). Any person who inflicts or melty to animals is liable on summary conviction to a fine of HK # 900 and to imprisonment for six months. The Hong Kong Govern take a serious view of cruelty and whenever any evidence is availa, prosecution is instituted in every case.
The Hon in dog. regula whenev
It is }
is a ti by the
{
ong Government do not deny the existence of an illegal trade
they do try to eliminate it by prosecution. They carry out pections of thousands of restaurant premises and prosecute e eating of dog meat and/or cruelty to animals is detected. ely known that the eating of dog flesh is illegal but, as it ional Chinese custom, it is seldom reported to the authorities ese, who form the vast majority of the population.
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