(CN-HKG) Longer jail terms sought for animal cruelty

April 12, 2006

South China Morning Post

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

by MARY ANN BENITEZ

Legislators yesterday urged the government to consider doubling the

maximum jail term for animal cruelty to two years, saying that

increasing the maximum fine to $100,000 will not be a sufficient

deterrent.

Despite the appeal, the five legislators attending the Legislative

Council health services panel endorsed the proposal of stiffer fines

for animal cruelty, which will rise from $5,000 to $100,000 and the

maximum jail term from six months to a year.

Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow Yat-ngok said he

supported measures that would prevent cruelty to animals. " Pet owners

should be taught to be more responsible, " he said.

The government said it would take a wait-and-see attitude on whether

the amended penalties would deter abuse.

Medical sector legislator Kwok Ka-ki said he welcomed the stiffer

fines but a longer jail term would be a more effective deterrent. He

said increasing the jail sentence to two years would be more in line

with several states in Australia and the United States.

" We are more concerned about imprisonment because it is more relevant

if you want to protect animals, " Dr Kwok said.

Anthony James, chairman of the Animal Welfare Advisory Group who was

not at the meeting, said it was time the government broadened the

definition of animal cruelty. He said he hoped this was just the

first step in overhauling the legislation, which was so badly out of

date that many acts of cruelty escaped its narrow definition.

Animal cruelty should be redefined " using a 21st century concept, as

distinct from its current Edwardian definition " , he said. The law was

last amended in 1979.

Pet lovers have been horrified recently after four kittens had their

legs broken by an attacker in Mongkok and a dog was found dumped in

Yuen Long with its legs cut off.

Is the proposed increase in penalties for cruelty to animals

sufficient? Send your comments to Talkback!

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