TNAG-0468-FCO40-533-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 69

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LIVE ANIMALS AND THEIR RECOGNISED PARTS AND PRODUCTS. IN ADDITION,

WE BAN THE IMPORTATION OF ALL BIRDS OF PREY AND THE COMMON QUAIL.

4. YOU DO APPEAR TO HAVE ADEQUATE LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MAINLY ONE OF ENFORCEMENT

WHICH IS AT PRESENT DEFECTIVE. YOUR NEW LEGISLATION IMPOSING STRICTER

CONTROLS OVER THE ANIMAL TRADERS SHOULD HELP. GRATEFUL TO KNOW

WHETHER THESE NEW CONTROLS ARE YET IN OPERATION.

5. IT THEREFORE APPEARS THAT HONG KONG IS NOW MORE RESTRICTIVE

THATN THE UK IN BANNING THE IMPORTATION OF TECHNICALLY THREATENED SPECIES, (INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE THE PANGOLIN), BUT THAT THERE IS

FREE IMPORTATION OF OTHER SPECIES WHICH ARE NOT IMPORTED TO OR

EATEN IN THE UK, INCLUDING SOME WHICH ARE PROTECTED INSIDE HONG KONG

ITSELF. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE TRUE THAT THESE SPECIES ARE NOT AT

PRESENT EFFECTIVELY PROTECTED FROM CRUEL TREATMENT WHEN THEY ARE

MPORTED. DURING THE BROADCAST NICHOLS SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE

PROBLEM OF ENFORCING THE CRUELTY LEGISLATION, IT MIGHT BE LESS

DIFFICULT TO BAN THE TRADE ALTOGETHER. IS THIS A STARTER? WOULD IT

BE POSSIBLE, FOR EXAMPLE TO BAN THE IMPORTATION OF SPECIES THAT ARE

ALREADY PROTECTED INSIDE HONG KONG?

6. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS AN EMOTIVE SUBJECT HERE.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS.

DOUGLAS-HOME

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