TNAG-0470-FCO40-535-Legislation-for-protection-of-wild-life-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 19

K

RECEIVED

ASTRY NASE 11 DEC1974

PKK 7/1

Our Ref: THS/JM/GD

2nd December, 1974.

His Excellency Sir Crawford Murray MacLehoso,

K.C.M.G., M.B.E.,

Governor of The Crown Colony of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,

Far East,

૨૦૧

Your Excellency,

This Society has bean concerned for a number of years about the wildlife trade between China and Hong Kong and the subsequent reports of crualty. There is also, because of the animals involved, the inevitable threat that this trade poses to certain species of wild mammals, birds and reptiles classi- fied as endangered in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species negotiated in Washington in March 1973,

The continual complaints about this wildlife traffic, varying in source from individuals, ISPA member-societies, the international press, and further highlighted by the B.B.C. broadcast "Who's Killing the China Animals?" caused my Society to send a trained Field Officer to Hong Kong in March this year and he has rendered a detailed report.

Previous representations (as noted in thin more comprehensive Brief sent under separate cover to your Private Secretary) have, regrettably, not resulted in the situation being improved to any marked degree, hence the decision of ISPA to make a direct representation to you.

While I am conversant with the difficulties of implementing reforms that affect trade and, to a lesser extant the special dietary preferences of a section of the population, it is hoped that you will