Hong Kong has banned the consumption of cat and dog meat for more than 70 years. However, recently, some people use the codes of "M" and "G" to smuggle cooked cat and dog meat from the Mainland into Hong Kong, and even sell them in licensed fresh food stores.
"Hong Kong 01" released snakes to obtain the suspicious meat, which was tested by the laboratory and confirmed to be cat and dog meat.
When the person in charge of the store responded, he still denied the accusation calmly, saying that his business was legitimate.
The FEHD confirmed that it had received two complaints about the sale of dog meat at the shops involved last year, but they were dismissed because nothing was found during inspections, and the newly moved shops had not yet obtained the required licenses.
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WeChat's big-selling advertisements show videos of frying "M meat" and "G meat"
A mainland account on WeChat, a messaging app, claims that local products from their hometown can be sent directly from Kaiping to Hong Kong. However, in addition to chilled poultry, vegetables, rabbit meat and mutton, they also sell "M meat" and "G meat".
"M" and "G" are not mysterious new species, but cats and dogs that are fasted in Hong Kong.
The account uploaded multiple videos of cooking meat, photos of boxed meat ready to be shipped, and videos of the goods arriving in Hong Kong. It even claimed that cats and dogs were sold at a shop on Reclamation Street in Jordan.
The store that claims to sell "M meat" and "G meat" has an area of only about 100 square feet, and multiple freezers are placed on the narrow shop floor.
(Photographed by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
The reporter let the snake buy the meat shop owner: don't be too public
The store involved was only about 100 feet long, and there were many freezers placed in the narrow storefront. People came into the store from time to time and talked with the middle-aged person in charge in their hometown dialect.
As a customer, the reporter inquired whether cat or dog meat was sold. The person in charge was a little shy, and lowered his voice to teach: "This (dog) you can say 'fragrant meat'." He took a pen and wrote the word "fragrant" on a note paper, Then he wrote an "M", "For cats, just say 'M', 'M meat'." Asked if he would break the law and be arrested if he bought it, he just smiled and said, "Of course, don't make it too public."
The person in charge of the shop admitted to selling cat and dog meat from the Mainland under the code names "M" and "G".
(Photographed by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
100 yuan per catty shop owner: "Many people eat"
The person in charge pointed out that the meat had been cooked in the mainland and sent to Hong Kong after being frozen. He said that he took out the vacuum-packed "G meat" from the freezer for display.
He pointed out that cat and dog meat are sold at 100 yuan per catty respectively, and the minimum consumption of each kind of meat is 200 yuan.
The store involved held a fresh food store license issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. The person in charge pointed out that the department had received a report accusing the store of selling cat and dog meat.
Afterwards, the shop still kept a low-key order. The person in charge said that many people bought cat and dog meat from him: "Many people eat it, but Hong Kong doesn't sell it."
The reporter inquired as a customer, and the person in charge immediately took out a pack of "G meat" from the freezer to display.
(Photographed by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
Fried and cooked, frozen and transported to Hong Kong for bursts of smell
The reporter tried to place an order, and received a notification the next day that the goods could be picked up.
The two kinds of meat were packed into transparent plastic boxes respectively, and the packaging was marked with "G meat" and "M meat stewed with medicinal materials", but there were no ingredients and food labels.
The meat in the frozen state emits a strong smell. According to the store introduction, the meat can be eaten after thawing and heating.
The two kinds of frozen meat smelled like "G meat" and "M meat stewed with herbs" on the package.
(Photo by Xia Jialang)
▼"G Meat"▼
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Suspected dog tail and small ribs were taken by the reporter and destroyed
"G meat" seems to be cooked with Zhuhou sauce. After heating, it emits a strong sauce smell. Some pieces of meat have light-colored hair; some parts are long strips, and there is also a section of tail that is suspected to be a dog.
"M Meat" is stewed with medicinal materials, and the smell is not as strong as "G Meat", and the color is also lighter.
The distribution and size of the bones of the two meats are obviously different from those of poultry and livestock that are generally eaten.
None of the meat in question was consumed and was destroyed after filming was completed.
▼「M Meat」▼
The laboratory confirmed that it was cat and dog meat
"Hong Kong 01" entrusted Haikang Life Science and Technology to test the meat. After gel electrophoresis (Gel electrophoresis), it was confirmed that the two kinds of meat contained cat and dog genes respectively.
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Peng Songqian, a technician at the Haikang Life Science and Technology Laboratory, explained that the gene sequence of each species is different, and the weights of the extracted gene fragments are also different. During the experiment, they will travel on the gel at different speeds.
He pointed out that the genes extracted from the samples bought by the reporter showed the same spectral arrangement as the positive controls containing cat and dog genes in the experiment, confirming that the samples were cat and dog meat.
"Hong Kong 01" entrusted Haikang Life Science and Technology to test the relevant meat, and confirmed that the two types of meat contained cat and dog genes respectively.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
Smuggling of cat and dog meat｜Hong Kong has enacted a 70-year fast and still some people are greedy for dog meat
The dog meat seller calmly denies
The "Cats and Dogs Regulations" expressly prohibits the slaughter, sale and consumption of cats and dogs. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.
Regarding the results of the experiment, the reporter went to the shop to inquire about his identity. The shop involved had just changed to a larger shop recently. The person in charge of selling cat and dog meat to reporters that day looked calm and denied all allegations of selling cat and dog meat, saying that the shop only sold poultry. Even though the reporter mentioned that there was a video testifying, he still said, "Really? Impossible." He also denied smuggling, saying it was a legitimate business.
Another man, who also claimed to be the person in charge of the shop, also repeatedly denied selling cat and dog meat, but hurried away when questioned by reporters.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department received reports twice and found nothing after inspections
The FEHD replied and confirmed that in May and October 2022, it had received a complaint about the suspected sale of dog meat at the premises involved, but inspections by officers found nothing.
The department also pointed out that when handling the first complaint, it was discovered that someone was operating a fresh food store without a license, and then prosecuted the relevant store owner.
The store was later granted a provisional fresh food store license, but closed down in December last year.
As for the newly moved shop, the FEHD stated that it had just received and was processing the license application for the premises. After receiving inquiries from reporters, it sent staff to inspect the shop several times, but found that the shop was under renovation and was not in operation.
The department said that it will continue to monitor the relevant premises, and if it is found that someone is operating a food business without a license, it will take enforcement action against the operator in accordance with the "Food Business Regulations".
At the beginning of February, the reporter went to two more shops to inspect. The old shop was not open, and a relocation notice was still posted; the new shop was closed and closed, but there were people in the shop.
The shop involved has just changed to a larger shop recently, but the Food and Environment Department replied that the premises had not obtained the relevant license at that time.
(Photo by Ma Chufeng)
According to the Customs, according to the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious crime. Once convicted, the maximum penalty is a fine of 2 million yuan and imprisonment for seven years.
The police pointed out that the Yau Ma Tei Division has not received relevant complaints in the past 12 months.
The Fisheries and Conservation Department replied that as of January 15 this year, no complaints about the case had been received.
The department also pointed out that if it receives relevant complaints, it will send personnel to the relevant premises for investigation.
Enforcement action will be taken if violations of the Dogs and Cats Regulations are found.
Does anyone in Hong Kong sell cat and dog meat?
"Hong Kong 01" revealed that there are licensed fresh food stores in Hong Kong that smuggled cat and dog meat code-named "M meat" and "G meat" from mainland China to Hong Kong for sale, and even showed the frying process on WeChat.
How do journalists expose someone selling smuggled cat and dog meat?
After the reporter of "Hong Kong 01" sent snakes to buy suspected cat and dog meat, he commissioned a laboratory to test the DNA of the meat and confirmed that it was cat and dog.
Is it legal to sell or eat dog and cat meat in Hong Kong?
Since the 1950s, Hong Kong has legislated to prohibit the consumption of cats and dogs. The "Cats and Dogs Regulations" expressly prohibits the slaughter, sale and consumption of cats and dogs. Violators can be fined up to HK$5,000 and imprisoned for 6 months.
Where is the source of smuggled cat and dog meat in Hong Kong?
"Hong Kong 01" revealed that someone smuggled cat and dog meat from Kaiping, Guangdong to Hong Kong.
Many places in the mainland will hold dog meat festivals in June, including Yulin in Guangxi and Kaiping in Guangdong.
Is it legal to eat cat and dog meat in mainland China?
Where are fasting laws?
There is no legislation in the whole country to ban cats and dogs. Some people's congress representatives proposed in the two sessions, but there was no progress. Only Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong Province passed local legislation to prohibit eating them.
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