Hong Kong officials have refused a request by green groups to stop serving shark's fin at government banquets, saying they need to stay on good terms with the industry.
The environmental groups made the request to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department at a meeting on Monday, but an assistant director declined.
Activist Clement Lee Yui-wah, who attended the meeting, said he was disappointed. 'They are not willing to take a step further,' he said.
A spokeswoman for the department said the city was committed to protecting endangered species by adhering to an international convention designed to ensure trade did not threaten endangered species' survival.
'It is possible more species will be included in the convention in the future. But now we will only take action against violations of the convention,' she said last night.' Once a species is listed in Cites [the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species] Appendices, Hong Kong will follow the decision and put the species under the control of local legislation.'
Three shark species are on the Cites list - the great white shark, basking shark and whale shark - and trading in them requires a licence in Hong Kong.