From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
LADI
REF.
147
17 July 1974
185
Dear Later,
NEM
REF.
You wrote to Jim Callaghan on 4 July enclosing a letter that you had received from your constituent Mr S G Skinner, of Green leaves, Stourmouth, Canterbury, Kent, about an article which appeared in the Sunday People on 23 June concerning cruelty to dogs in Hong Kong.
We have consulted the Governor of Hong Kong about this. The eating of dogs is a traditional Southern Chinese custom and rests on a deep-rooted belief that dog flesh has special nutritious value. Nevertheless, it is illegal to slaughter dogs for human consumption in Hong Kong and hoth the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals prosecute any cases which hecome known to them. But it is a custom which they have not found easy to eradicate.
The law in Hong Kong is clear. Under the provisions of Regulation 22 of the Dogs and Cats Regulations (CAP 167), no person is permitted to slaughter any dog for use as food, whether for human consumption or otherwise. No person can sell or use, or permit the sale or use of, the flesh of dogs for food. Any person who is found in possession of the carcass of any dog, or any part thereof, in such circumstances as would reasonably give rise to a belief that such dog was being or had been slaughtered or sold or used for food in breach of the Regulation is found guilty of an offence unless he is able to satisfy a magistrate that he has not in fact committed any breach. Any person who contravenes the Regulation is liable to a fine of HK $1,000 (approximately £83) and to imprisonment for six months. The actual fine, of course, depends on the judgement of the magistrate.
Peter Rees Esq QC MP
House of Commons.
/Cruelty to
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