CONFIDENTIAL
6. AS REGARDS POINT (B) ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS IS THAT MANY SPECIES,
WHEN RECEIVED BY WHOLESALERS HERE, ARE ALREADY INJURED. THEY
COME MAINLY FROM SOUTH CHINA AND USUALLY BY JUNK. THE INJURIES
APPEAR TO RESULT SOMETIMES FROM THE METHOD OF CAPTURE
蓄
E.G. GIN-TRAPS, AND SOMETIMES FROM UNDULY CRAMPING THE SPECIES
WHEN CRATED OR FROM CHINESE PRACTICES SUCH AS WIRING BIRDS'
BEAKS. AGAIN THIS IS AN ASPECT WHICH ONLY AN APPROACH TO THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES CAN MITIGATE OR REMOVE AND WE ARE DOUBTFUL OF THE ADVISABILITY OF ATTEMPTING IT. WHAT WE CAN NOW DO (SEE PARAGRAPH 7 BELOW) IS INSPECT TRADERS' PREMISES AND REQUIRE HUMANE KILLING
WHEN ANIMALS ARE FOUND TO BE INJURED.
7. ON POINT
ON POINT (C) WE HAVE NOW IMPOSED, FROM 1 JANUARY, A STRICTER CODE OF STANDARDS FOR LICENCED ANIMAL TRADERS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE REVISED PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS) (ANIMAL TRADERS) REGULATIONS 1973. THESE GIVE US ALL THE LEGAL POWERS WE NEED
TO ENFORCE THESE STANDARDS WITH TRADERS. COPIES ARE BEING SENT TO
YOU SEPARATELY.
8. ON POINT (D) TO WHICH YOU REFER IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM, NAMELY OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS, THE SPECIES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE USUALLY SENT LIVE TO RESTAURANTS AND KILLED. IN THEIR KITCHENS WHEN THE DEMAND OF CUSTOMERS CREATES THE NEED.
THIS ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS FOR FRESHLY KILLED MEAT. KILLING IS THEREFORE VERY IRREGULAR AND IS FAR FROM EASY TO CONTROL. WE NOW INTEND, HOWEVER, TO INCREASE THE DIRECT EFFORT TO INSPECT TRADERS AND RESTAURANT PREMISES TO DETECT CRUELTY MAINLY BY USING URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEALTH INSPECTORS. BUT WE HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THAT, THE MORE WE SEEK TO CONTROL THIS TRADE, THE MORE WE ARE LIABLE TO DRIVE IT UNDERGROUND AND THAT WE CANNOT COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF PUBLIC OPINION IN IMPLEMENTING THE LAWS (WHICH THEY CONSIDER ARE BASED ON ESSENTIALLY WESTERN CONCEPTS), ESPECIALLY AS THIS FOOD, SOME OF WHICH COMES FROM REARED
/ANIMALS,
-3m CONFIDENTIAL
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