TNAG-0469-FCO40-534-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 166

RECORD OF A MEETINB BETWEEN SIR JOHN ADDIS AND HR WANG TUNG ON TUESDAY 5 MARCH

Sir John Addis explained that one question which he wished to raise on a personal basis concerned the import into Hong Kong of animals and birds which may be rare in their natural habitat. He first wished to make clear that public opinion in Britain was particularly sensitive on two points: (a) the conservation of wild animals that were rare, and (b) any suggestion of apparent cruelty to animals and

birds.

He did not either justify or condemn this appect of public opinion in Britain, but it had to be taken into account. Any question touching on these points aroused great attention. Last December there was a report on the BBC on the sale of rare animals from China. It expressed concern both from the point of view of conservation and about the conditions in which they were offered for sale. This report had been taken up in the press, for example in an article in the "Sunday Times" on 3 February. In consequence some criticism has been directed against the Hong Kong authorities for permitting the sale and for permitting the conditions in which the animals were sold; and this criticism was also partly directed against the Chinese Government. John Addis wished to inform Mr Wang of this on a personal basis so that they could see what could be done to meet the criticism which was directed against both sides.

2.

Sir

Sir John Addis handed over a list of animals which had been traded in Hong Kong and which might be considered rare in their natural habitat. He would be grateful if the competent authorities could say which were protected in China and which were not considered to be so rare as to need protection. He knew that the Chinese Government had done a great deal of work on the conser- vation of wildlife and that last October there had been an important meeting at which this subject was discussed. therefore hoped that by the exchange of the relevant information it would be possible to meet the criticisms which had been voiced. He would also be grateful for anything that the Chinese Government could do to ensure that the conditions in which animals and birds were sent to Hong Kong were as decent as possible.

He