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Thank you also for your confirmation that there is no overall Authority in which enforcement powers are vested regarding cruelty of animals in the U.K. Here I continue to press for
slightly more precise administrative directions to the various departments who can assist in enforcing the local Ordinance but, of course, in the final analysis one comes up against a question of priorities insofar as both the courts and prosecuting officers are concerned. I do, however, detect a swing in our favour and quite recently a decision was taken to proceed with prosecution against a New Territories Village Representative (and therefore a member of the Heung Yee Kuk consultative body) for wantonly killing a leopard cat, under our Wild Animals Protection Ordinance.
I hope we can deal with anything outstanding when we meet. However, please feel at liberty to telephone me at Thropton should anything come to hand in which I can be of help.
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(E. H. Nichols)
Director of Agriculture & Fisheries
Mr. O'Hara, FCO (w/o enc.)
SES (for Mr. B. Johnson)
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