Dogs and Cats (Slaughter) (Hansard, 7 July 1959)

§ 24. Mr. Rankin
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will urge on the Hong Kong Government the desirability of establishing licensed premises within their territory for the humane slaughter of dogs and cats used for food.

§ Mr. J. Amery
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Rankin
That is a much briefer Answer than I received two years ago. Has the hon. Gentleman no defence for this? Can he tell me why it is that if these animals have to die in order to increase the potency of the Chinaman in Hong Kong, an island that is already overcrowded, they should die in these conditions? Why should they not be humanely slaughtered?

§ Mr. Amery
There are great difficulties in this matter. If we were to legalise the slaughter of dogs and cats there is a serious danger that there would be importation of dogs from China, possibly by smugglers. There is no rabies control in China. The law is difficult to enforce, because it is difficult to distinguish between a dog lover and a dog eater

§ Mr. Rankin
On a point of order. If we can deal with foot-and-mouth disease in this country, can we not deal with rabies in Hong Kong?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order at all. The hon. Member should know that.