TNAG-0468-FCO40-533-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 107

Mr Davies

Far Eastern Department

HKK 7/1

Reference...

2j

Fla

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INFORMATION OF WILD LIFT FROM CHINA INTO HONG KONG

1. You may be aware that at the moment we are dealing with a very large number of letters from MPs and members of the public as a result of a BBC radio programme in December on the Importation of Wild Life for Human Consumption from China into Hong Kong. For background please see Mr Crowson's submission of 17 December, and our telegram to the Govenor number 31.

2.

We have asked the Govenor for an urgent reply. He is having a meeting today and hopes to be able to send us something thereafter. We shall then need to submit to Mr. Blaker on the whole issue and the line to take in reply to the MP's letters.

3.

In the meantime there is one point on which I should be grateful for your comments. The Fauna Freservation Society and several of the MPs have suggested that it would be more effective if MG were to approach the Chinese Government in an attempt to persuade them to check the trade from their end. An example of this is the letter from the Fauna Preservation Society, forwarded by Fr Dalyell. I should be grateful for your views on this point.

21 January 1974

Р.П. Кому

Miss FM Kelly

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept. K 245 NA 632

Thiss Kelly,

I do not think a formal approach to the Chinese

would be a

and I doubt whether

good idea, and

it would be effective. The Chinese would almost

a

local matter and

certainly argue that this was that they could not be expected to influence the customs and eating habits of the people of Kwangtung

same delicacies are sold

province (after all and eaten

ttie

Canton);

the trade in live animals

across the frontier, like Chinese migration, was "traditional".

r.