In a move hailed by conservation groups, Hong Kong's government announced it would cease serving shark fin and bluefin tuna at official functions. In a press release, the government announced it was taking steps because the items "have aroused international and local concern because they are either captured or harvested in ecologically unfriendly or unsustainable ways, or cause other conservation concerns". It has also encouraged government-funded bodies to follow suit. However, imports have declined, attributed in part to a clampdown on lavish official functions on the Chinese mainland, the final destination for many of the imports.

"After almost a decade of advocacy in the form of petitions, protest marches, letter writing and media campaigns, the Hong Kong government has finally seen fit to do the right thing - for which we applaud them," said Alex Hofford, executive director of Hong Kong-based marine conservation group MyOcean."We hope the citizens of Hong Kong can follow suit and finally lay this abhorrent tradition to rest," Mr Hofford said.

Anti-shark fin campaigns have prompted some five-star hotels in the Chinese territory to remove shark fin from their menus, as well as flagship carrier Cathay Pacific. In 2012, tens of thousands of shark fins found drying on a factory rooftop in Hong Kong in an apparent attempt to hide the controversial items from public view.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, demand for fins and other shark-related products has led to some shark species numbers plummeting by 60-70%. Hong Kong is one of the world's biggest markets for shark fin.

After almost a decade of advocacy in the form of petitions, protest marches, letter writing and media campaigns, the Hong Kong government has finally seen fit to do the right thing - for which we applaud them.

Alex Hofford, executive director of Hong Kong-based marine conservation group MyOcean