Public Opinion Programme, The University of Hong Kong

Humane Society International

Survey on Pangolin Consumption Trends in Hong Kong
10 July, 2015
Contact Information
Date of Survey: June 29 - July 2, 2015
Sample Size: 1,037
Survey Method: Random telephone survey with interviewers
Target population: Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above who speak Cantonese
Response rate: 67.6%
Standard error: less than 1.6% (i.e. the maximum sampling error of all percentages should be no more than +/-3.1% at 95% confidence level)
*The data have been rim-weighted according to provisional figures obtained from the Census and Statistics Department regarding the gender-age
distribution of the HK populationin 2014 year-end and the educational attainment (highest level attended) distribution collected in the 2011 Census.

: 29/6-2/7/2015
: 1,037
:
: 18
: 67.6%
: 1.6% (95% +/-3.1%)
*20142011

Survey Result
[Q1] ?
Have you heard of an animal called pangolin?
Frequency
Valid

974
61
2
1037

1 Yes
2 No
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Percent

Valid Percent

93.9
5.9
.2
100.0

93.9
5.9
.2
100.0

[Q2] D? []
Do you know in which countries or regions are pangolins found? [Dont read out the answers; multiple answers allowed]
Cases
Valid
Missing
N
Percent
N
Percent
1037

100.0%

N
2 Mainland China
3 Southeast Asia
1 Hong Kong
6 Africa
5 Australia
4 North America
Elsewhere
/ Dont know/hard to say

Responses
Percent
626
163
79
46
11
10
30
320
1286

Total
Q2_others

Frequency
Valid

12
6
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
30

South America
Asia
Europe
Places with few people
Mountain area
Tropical area
Third world countries
Forest
Middle East
Total

48.7%
12.7%
6.1%
3.6%
.8%
.8%
2.4%
24.9%
100.0%

Cumulative
Percent
93.9
99.8
100.0

Total
N
.0%

Percent of Cases
60.4%
15.7%
7.6%
4.5%
1.0%
.9%
2.9%
30.9%

Percent
1037

100.0%

[Q3] ?
Have you ever consumed pangolin meat?
Frequency
Valid

2 1 Yes, I have
consumed pangolin meat in the past year
3 5 Yes, I have
consumed pangolin meat in the past five
years
4 Yes, I have
consumed pangolin meat a long time ago
No, I have never
consumed pangolin meat
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Percent
1

.1

.1

.1

.6

.6

.7

81

7.8

7.8

8.5

934

90.1

90.1

98.6

14
1037

1.4
100.0

1.4
100.0

100.0

[Q4] D[]
Why do you think people would eat pangolin meat? [Dont read out the answers; multiple answers allowed]
Cases
Valid
N
Percent
N
1031

Missing

2 Good for health

1 Medical Value
4 Tasty
7 Curious
3 Chinese tradition food
8 Rare
6 Chinese likes to eat wild
animals
5 Chinese likes to eat
everything
9 Lack of culture
No reasons
Others (see below)
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Total
Percent

99.5%

Cumulative
Percent

Valid Percent

Responses
Percent

N
.5%

Percent
1037

100.0%

Percent of Cases

406
115
96
60
51
44
15

35.3%
10.0%
8.3%
5.2%
4.4%
3.8%
1.3%

39.4%
11.2%
9.3%
5.8%
4.9%
4.2%
1.5%

11

1.0%

1.1%

9
56
19
267
1150

.8%
4.9%
1.6%
23.2%
100.0%

.9%
5.4%
1.8%
25.9%

Q4_others
Frequency
Valid

6
5
3
3
2
<1
19

Not enough food

Personal taste
Demand and supply
Treat it as normal meat
Symbol of identity
Free
Total

[Q5] ? []
Have you ever purchased pangolin meat in Hong Kong, Mainland China or elsewhere? [Dont read out the answers; multiple answers allowed]
Cases
Valid

Missing

Percent
1037

100.0%

Total

Responses
Percent
2
17
1007
11
1037

1 Hong Kong
2 Mainland China
Never
/ Dont know/hard to say

Total
Percent

.2%
1.6%
97.1%
1.1%
100.0%

N
.0%

Percent
1037

Percent of Cases
.2%
1.6%
97.1%
1.1%

[Q6] ?
Do you think it is illegal to eat pangolin meat in Hong Kong?
Frequency
Valid

1 Yes
2 No
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Missing
Total

Refuse to answer

755
78
203
1036
1
1037

Percent
72.8
7.5
19.6
99.9
.1
100.0

Valid Percent
72.9
7.5
19.6
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
72.9
80.4
100.0

100.0%

[Q7] ?
Do you think pangolin scales have any medicinal value?
Frequency
Valid

1 Yes
2 No
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Missing
Total

Refuse to answer

Percent

402
156
477
1035
2
1037

Cumulative
Percent

Valid Percent

38.7
15.1
46.0
99.8
.2
100.0

38.8
15.1
46.1
100.0

38.8
53.9
100.0

[Q8] ?
Then, have you or your family members ever used pangolin scales or its products for medication purpose?
Frequency
Valid

2 1 Yes,
in the past year
4 Yes,
a long time ago

No, I have never used pangolin scales or
its products for medication purpose
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Percent

Cumulative
Percent

Valid Percent

.2

.2

.2

23

2.2

2.2

2.4

986

95.1

95.1

97.4

27
1037

2.6
100.0

2.6
100.0

100.0

[Q9]Q8? []
[Only for those who have used pangolin scales or its products for medicine in Q8] What was it being used to treat?
Cases
Valid
Missing
N
Percent
N
Percent
24

97.6%

N
Valid

1 Rheumatism
2 Sore
Others (see below)
/ Dont know/hard to say

Responses
Percent
2
9
9
5
25

Total

Total
N

Percent

2.4%

24

Percent of Cases

6.5%
35.1%
37.1%
21.2%
100.0%

6.8%
36.8%
38.9%
22.3%

Q9_others
Frequency
Valid

itchy
Cancer
Eczema
Diabetic
Impotence
Total

5
2
1
1
1
9

[Q10] ? []
Have you ever consumed pangolin scales in Hong Kong, Mainland China or elsewhere? [Dont read out the answers; multiple answers allowed]
Frequency
Valid

3
8
1017
9
1037

1 Hong Kong
2 China
Never
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Percent

Valid Percent

.3
.8
98.0
.8
100.0

.3
.8
98.0
.8
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
.3
1.1
99.2
100.0

[Q11] ?
Do you think it is illegal to consume pangolin scales in Hong Kong?
Frequency
Valid

1 Yes
2 No
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

530
168
339
1037

Percent

Valid Percent

51.1
16.2
32.7
100.0

51.1
16.2
32.7
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
51.1
67.3
100.0

[Q12]
Finally, do you think the number of people consuming pangolin meat and scales is increasing or decreasing nowadays?
Frequency
Valid

1 Increasing
2 Same
3 Decreasing
/ Dont know/hard to say
Total

Missing
Total

Refuse to answer

106
55
577
299
1036
1
1037

Percent
10.2
5.3
55.6
28.8
99.9
.1
100.0

Valid Percent
10.2
5.3
55.7
28.8
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
10.2
15.5
71.2
100.0

100.0%

Demographics of respondents
Gender
Frequency
Valid

469
568
1037

1 Male
2 Female
Total

Percent

Valid Percent

45.3
54.7
100.0

45.3
54.7
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
45.3
100.0

Age
Frequency
Valid

18 - 29 18-29
30 - 39 30-39
40 - 49 40-49
50 - 59 50-59
60 - 69 60-69
70 70 or above
Total

Missing
Total

Refuse to answer

185
188
191
208
134
124
1029
8
1037

Percent

Valid Percent

17.8
18.1
18.4
20.0
12.9
12.0
99.2
.8
100.0

18.0
18.2
18.6
20.2
13.0
12.0
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
18.0
36.2
54.8
75.0
88.0
100.0

Education level

Valid

1 Primary or below
2 Secondary
3 Tertiary or above
Total

Missing
Total

Refuse to answer

Frequency
243
494
290
1027
10
1037

Percent

Frequency

Percent

23.4
47.6
28.0
99.0
1.0
100.0

Valid Percent
23.7
48.1
28.3
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
23.7
71.7
100.0

Occupation

Valid

Missing
Total

1 Executives and
professionals
2 Clerical and service
workers
3 Workers
4 Students
5 Housewives
6 Others
Total
Refuse to answer

Valid Percent

Cumulative
Percent

204

19.6

19.9

19.9

183

17.6

17.8

37.8

111
92
173
261
1023
14
1037

10.7
8.9
16.7
25.2
98.7
1.3
100.0

10.8
9.0
16.9
25.5
100.0

48.6
57.6
74.5
100.0

Income
Frequency
Valid

295
224
135
78
138
60
30
961
76
1037

1 No income
2 HK$9,999 HK$9,999 or below
3 HK$10,000-14,999 HK$ 10,000-14,999
4 HK$15,000-19,999 HK$ 15,000-19,999
5 HK$20,000-39,999 HK$20,000-39,999
6 HK$40,000 HK$40,000 or above
Not stable
Total

Missing
Total

Refuse to answer

Percent
28.5
21.6
13.0
7.6
13.3
5.7
2.9
92.6
7.4
100.0

Valid Percent
30.8
23.3
14.1
8.2
14.4
6.2
3.1
100.0

Cumulative
Percent
30.8
54.1
68.1
76.3
90.7
96.9
100.0