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First-day covers and postcards on "Year of the Pig"
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) and the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF HK) today (Thursday) announced the launching of two editions of first-day covers and one set of four postcards depicting the Year of the Pig for limited distribution.
The production of these items were timed to tie in with the new special stamps on pig breeds to be issued by the Post Office on the 17th of this month.
The postcards and first-day covers will be on sale from Saturday (January 7) at the WWF HK office, 1 Tramway Path, Central.
AFD's Acting Assistant Director (Agriculture), Mr Chan Chi-chiu said this was a good opportunity to introduce various pig breeds to the public and promote awareness of the importance of pigs as food animals in Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong people love to eat pork. Each person consumes about 25 kilograms of fresh pork per year. AFD has all along been working to upgrade the pig herd in local farms with introduction of modern breeds which are fast growing and lean."
Mr Chan thanked the WWF HK for the production of these items which also increase public awareness of preserving the existing wild species of pigs.
WWF HK Senior Conservation Officer Ms Jo Ruxton said: "Pigs are intelligent animals with a keen sense of smell and well developed hearing. They communicate incessantly with squeaks, chirrups and grunts.
"Habitat destruction, however, threatens many wild species such as Pygmy Hog and Javan Pig. Their population are so low that only habitat protection and captive breeding programmes can save them," she said.
She pointed out that WWF HK was working to educate the public about the threat of habitat destruction to the environment.
Further enquiries can be directed to either Miss Pauline Cheung of WWF HK on tel 2526 1011 or AFD's Mrs Christina Lo on tel 2674 0593.
End/Thursday, January 5, 1995