TNAG-0469-FCO40-534-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 31

20 June 1974

25 Rothamsted Avenue,

Harpenden,

Herts.

Dear Mr.Goodhew,

I really am extremely grateful to you for pressing further for information about action in the interests of the ill-treated imported wild creatures in HongKong (your letter of June 5 ̊ refers).

Both Lord Goronwy Roberts and his predecessor have evidently thought that part of the objections lay in the idea that endangered species were being destroyed. I was not aware that considerations of conservation had arisen. Personally I was concerned solely with the allegations of extreme cruelty in the handling and disposing of these creatures. Lord Goronwy Roberts recognises in his letter the importance of ensuring that they are "humanel; treated and killed", and has sent us a copy of the 1973 Regulations dealing with this traffic. These are good as far as they go, and Regs.1(c)(iii), 6(f)(i), 9 and 10 particularly are designed to provide that the creatures are humanely treated in captivity, but the Regulations contain no provision that they must be despatched humanely. Since the purpose of their captivity is that wey should be killed and eaten, the most impuran. requlfemcnu 26 ümitted.

UI' course, one knows that laws, however good, can remain a dead letter unless there is constant vigilance by the inspectorate and the police. It is no doubt at this level that enforcement fails, for various reasons, and I would ask earnestly (a) that the Regulations be amended to require killing to be done humanely, and (b) that the proper officers be instructed to give the enforcement of humane treatment their assiduous attention, especially by surprise inspections, end that breaches of the law be rigorously pursued.

Thank you again for all the trouble you have taken.

Yours sincerely,

Strankestakin han

R.1.W.Pakenham

ני

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