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At the 1st March 2010 meeting of the Records Committee, the following decisions were made.

1.        Taxonomy and nomenclature of the HK List
It was unanimously agreed to adopt the taxonomic approach of the IOC List, which is itself based on that of Howard and Moore, on the basis that it adopts a reasonable and consistent approach based on a scientific assessment of peer-reviewed literature.

As a result of this, two species were added to Category A of the HK List:

Western Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni

This brings the main HK List to 498 species.

The English names were discussed at some length, and it was unanimously agreed not to accept these in their entirety. A list of approximately 17 departures from the IOC choice of English names was drawn up. These will be presented for comment and further feedback on the HKBWS website as soon as possible, before a final selection is made.

Outstanding issues relate to whether the hyphenation rules adopted are reasonable and consistent, and the list of species on Categories E and F.

2.        Changes to the HK List
The following additions to the main HK List (Categories A-D) were accepted.

Addition to Category D
House Crow Corvus splendens
A self-sustaining population now exists, and this species is now placed on Category D. This becomes the 499th species on the List.

Addition to Category A
Red-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis
A first-winter female on Po Toi on 19th November 2009. This is the 500th addition to the HK List.

Geoff Carey
RC Chairman