It's not only pet rabbits that might be on the shopping list of some Hong Kong people in the run-up to the Chinese New Year: Animal rights campaigners fear rabbit fur products may feature in some gift-giving.

"We have done investigations into the rabbit fur industry in China and there are still many farms that could be gearing up for the Chinese New Year," said Ashley Fruno, spokesperson of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"We want people to know that if you care about animals or want to make it a good year for rabbits, please don't buy any fur. The manner in which they are killed is anything but humane."

Rabbit fur is widely available in Hong Kong and Asia, usually as a cheaper form of fur used on everything from fur coats to scarfs and hats and even toys for cats and dogs. "People who wear fur don't think about where it comes from," Fruno said.

"It is just a matter of educating them and letting them know that rabbit before he became your cuff or collar was terrified and he was tortured and killed in an absolutely brutal way. Educating people is as simple as just letting them know that and how fur is a social liability."

PETA has written to Chinese model and actress Michele Reis asking her to stop wearing fur as a way to mark the Year of the Rabbit. In a letter, campaigner Coco Yu tells Reis: "By flaunting any fur, you are as guilty of cruelty as if you had skinned the animals yourself ... As a celebrity you are expected to set fashion trends and a good example."

However, Tim Everest, former chairman and spokesman for the Hong Kong Fur Federation, which has more than 150 members including manufacturers and skin traders, hit back at the campaign to stop Hong Kong people wearing fur.

He said: "The ultimate end of all this is that the animal rights people want to stop the use of animals in every shape or form.

"They put all this stuff out on the conditions of fur farms but I say 'Got to fur farms and see what they're really like'. The BBC sent a crew to a fur farm in Denmark and she (the reporter) couldn't believe how gentle the euthanasia process was.

"She went to see the animal rights people as well and they made her cry by showing her all sorts of shocking videos."

Everest added: "The stuff the animal rights people have put out about China and conditions in fur farms there makes your stomach turn. I abhor cruelty to animals.

"I have four dogs at home and I love them to bits and would never dream of harming them in any way. I really do believe an animal has as much right to dignity and to be treated properly as anybody else."

(HK Edition 01/27/2011 page4)