Photo gallery: Outrage over thousands of shark fins on Hong Kong rooftop
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Shark fins drying in the sun cover the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: AFP
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This photo taken on Jan 2, 2013, shows shark fins drying in the sun covering the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Over 10,000 pieces of shark fins are dried on the rooftop of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Over 10,000 pieces of shark fins are dried on the rooftop of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Workers lay out pieces of shark fin to dry on a rooftop of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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An environmental activist holds a picture of a dead and finned shark next to shark fins drying in the sun covering the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: AFP
Shark fins drying in the sun cover the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: AFP
This photo taken on Jan 2, 2013, shows shark fins drying in the sun covering the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: AFP
Over 10,000 pieces of shark fins are dried on the rooftop of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Over 10,000 pieces of shark fins are dried on the rooftop of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Workers lay out pieces of shark fin to dry on a rooftop of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An environmental activist holds a picture of a dead and finned shark next to shark fins drying in the sun covering the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong on Jan 2, 2013. Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade. -- PHOTO: AFP
HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong conservationists have expressed outrage after images of a factory rooftop covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins emerged, as they called for curbs on the "barbaric" trade.
The southern Chinese city is one of the world's biggest markets for shark fins, which are used to make soup that is an expensive staple at Chinese banquets and viewed by many Asians as a rare delicacy.
Activist Gary Stokes, who has visited the site, estimated there are 15,000 to 20,000 fins being laid to dry on the rooftop on Hong Kong island ahead of an anticipated surge in demand over Chinese New Year in February this year.
"This is shocking," the Hong Kong coordinator for conservation group Sea Shepherd told AFP, saying it was the first time he had spotted such a massive hoarding of shark fins in one place in the Asian financial hub.
