Proposed legislation to ban the eating of wild animals has sparked a heated debate in Guangdong Province, where the practice is steeped in centuries of tradition.

　　The proposed law comes amid a national soul-searching over the treatment of animals and attitudes to the natural environment.

　　During a public hearing on Tuesday of the draft regu-lation on public health, the clause on "prohibition of the consumption of wild ani-mals" caused heated debate.

　　All those who attended agreed with the intention of the legislation to "cut the channel of transmission of epidemic diseases through wild animals," but most said the clause was unclear, not feasible and might under-mine the animal breeding industry.

　　In Guangdong, one of the most economically advanced provinces in China, the trade in more than 100 varieties of wild animals at the country's largest wild animal market is worth 1.9 million yuan (US,916) every day.

　　The SARS epidemic in the first half of the year seriously affected Guangdong.

　　Many provinces have since banned wild animal markets, though there is still no direct evidence linking wild animals to the cause of the disease.

　　The China Wildlife Conser-vation Association has written a public letter, appealing for an end to the eating of wild animals. Guangxi Zhuang Autono-mous Region banned circuses from using animals in shows. Anhui Province banned wildlife dishes in restaurants.

　　In Guangdong, the original version of the draft law had no clause on eating wild animals. By the end of May, the standing committee of the provincial People's Congress added clauses on the prohibition of the consumption of wild animals and stricter management of pets.

　　In the amended draft, the clause banned the eating of wild animals, but prescribed no penalties.