Threat to animal cruelty bill

[Guest guest]

Friday, November 3, 2006

South China Morning Post

by HELEN WU

 

The government yesterday threatened to withdraw an animal cruelty

amendment bill if legislators insisted on raising the revised jail

penalty for animal cruelty to the same as common assault against

humans.

 

The deputy secretary for health, welfare and food, Cheuk Wing-hing,

sounded the warning at a bills committee meeting after some lawmakers

pushed for a further increase in the penalty to three years in jail.

 

The authorities have already doubled the initial penalty proposal to

a two-year jail sentence and a HK$200,000 fine. The existing maximum

penalty for animal cruelty is six months' jail and a HK$5,000 fine.

 

The penalty for animal neglect has also been increased from

HK$25,000, as originally proposed, to HK$50,000 in the latest

amendment.

 

" Apart from the increased duration of imprisonment, the fine we

intend is also a high level of penalty. The government believes it is

a justified punishment carrying deterrent weight, " Mr Cheuk said.

 

The revised penalties were appropriate and justified, he said, saying

the current maximum penalty for common assault against people was

three years in prison.

 

He also rejected an earlier proposal by legislators to create a new

category of aggravated offences, such as deliberate abuse or torture

of animals, saying the courts would decide according to each case.

 

Apart from the new penalty proposal, Mr Cheuk also pledged to

complete the review of the whole Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Ordinance within a year.

 

Legislator Fred Li Wah-ming said he welcomed the government's move to

increase the penalties but believed three years in jail would be more

appropriate.

 

" Three years in jail is essential as it [gives] out a clear message

to the public that animal cruelty is a severe offence, " he said.

 

But Mr Cheuk said the penalty increase to two years was decided after

careful consideration.

 

Bills committee chairman James Tien Pei-chun said he would talk to

the secretary for health, welfare and food, York Chow Yat-ngok, about

legislators' concerns. The committee plans to meet again next Friday.