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SATURDAY, OCTOBER
OCTOBER 2, 1976
QUAIL VENDORS WARNED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED QUA IL VENDORS THAT THEY WOULD BE PROSECUTED IF THEY SKIN THE BIRDS IN AN INHUMAN MANNER.
THE VENDORS HAD ALSO BEEN URGED TO CONSULT WITH INSPECTORS FROM THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ON THE BEST METHODS OF KEEPING AND KILLING QUAILS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE WARNING HAD BEEN GIVEN THROUGH A LETTER TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK IN REPLY TO REPRESENTATIONS OVER THE PROSECUTION OF A QUA IL VENDOR IN TA KOK TSUI ROAD EARLIER THIS YEAR.
REPRESENTATIVES OF QUAIL VENDORS IN YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN COMPLAINED TO THE KUK AFTER THE MAN WAS CONVICTED OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND WAS SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH'S JAIL.
THE N.T.A, SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE QUESTION HAD BEEN RAISED WITH EXPERTS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE H.K.S.P.C.A.
+OUR ADVICE TO THE VENDORS IS THAT IF THEY WISH TO AVOID PROSECUTION, THEY MUST SELL UNKILLED QUAILS OR QUAILS SKINNED IN A MORE HUMANE WAY THAN THE PRESENT METHODS USED BY SOME – WHICH IS SKINNING ALIVE, HE ADDED.
+THE OFFENCE IS NOT IN THE KILLING OF THE BIRDS, BUT IN THE INHUMAN MANNER OF SKINNING.
+THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE THAT DESPITE ANY CLAIM TO THE CONTRARY, THE SKINNING OF BIRDS ALIVE IS INHUMAN AND HAS NO ADVANTAGE OVER KILLING BY OTHER CONVENTIONAL METHODS.
*WE HAVE INFORMED THE XUK THAT THE H.K.S.P.C.A. INTENDS DOING EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO PREVENT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND THAT THE POLICE WILL ALSO PROSECUTE OFFENDERS AGAINST THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ORDINANCE.
+WE HAVE ALSO URGED THOSE IN THE BUSINESS TO CONSULT WITH EXPERTS FROM THE H.K.S.P.C.A. AND THE AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ON THE BEST WAYS OF OVERCOMING ANY PROBLEMS THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR MOETHODS OF KILLING THE QUAILS.+
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