(CN) Wild Animal Markets

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE (for immediate release) 29 May 2003

 

Hong Kong Legislator, Conservation and Welfare Groups

agree on Resolution for China

 

On Wednesday 28th May 2003, during a Discussion Panel

on Protecting Wild Animals organised by Dr. Hon. Chu

Yu-lin, J.P, Legislative Councilor and Deputy of

China's National People's Congress, a unanimous

resolution was passed concerning the trade and

consumption of wild animals, together with domestic

dogs and cats.

 

Proposed by the Hong Kong based Animals Asia

Foundation, the Resolution stated: " We call for the

Central Government of China to instruct all provinces

to emulate the good example in Guangdong, where

breeding, trading and consumption of wild animals has

now been banned. We urge the Central Government to go

further by closing all wild animals markets

countrywide, and banning the consumption of wild

animals, dogs and cats, together with the breeding and

trading of wild animals, dogs and cats for

consumption. "

 

The Resolution, which was unanimously supported by the

following groups, will now be submitted by Dr. Chu to

the National People's Congress in Beijing:

 

1. Dr. Hon. Chu Yu-lin J.P., Legislative Councilor

and Deputy of the National People's Congress

2. Animals Asia Foundation

3. The Conservancy Association

4. Friends of the Earth Hong Kong

5. Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

6. Asian Animal Protection Network

7. Lamma Animal Protection

8. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society

9. World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong

10. Ocean Park Hong Kong

11. TRAFFIC East Asia.

 

During the meeting, Jill Robinson MBE, Founder and CEO

of Animals Asia, stressed the importance of finding

solutions if the countrywide trade in wild animals,

together with dogs and cats were to end and pledged

Animals Asia's help in creating and producing public

education programmes nationwide.

 

Dr. David Chu Yu-lin said: " Eating cats, dogs and wild

animals is not only uncivilized, but can also

negatively affect our health. The Central Government

should therefore ban such uncivilised behaviour through

legislation. "

 

Ms Robinson paid tribute to Legislators and officials

in Hong Kong and China who were spearheading a new era

of humane education in China: " The leadership of Dr.

Chu and government members of the China Wildlife

Conservation Association in Beijing is undoubtedly

paving the way towards ending decades of misery and

disease in the animals markets of China. For the first

time in nearly twenty years of calling for the closure

of these cruel and unsanitary markets country wide,

there is hope. "

 

Ends.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Jill Robinson MBE - Founder & CEO, Animals Asia

Foundation, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2719 3340 or Mobile: (852) 9095 8405 or

jrobinson

or

Dr. Hon David Chu Yu-lin - pager no.- Hong Kong -

(852) 77703330

 

For stills & footage please contact Annie Mather -

Media Director, Animals Asia Foundation, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2521 0982 or Mobile: (852) 9425 7429 or

amather