(HK) Animal activists demand stricter laws

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Hong Kong Standard

P12

By Timothy Chui 2008-01-14

 

Animal activists demand stricter laws

 

Lawmakers and concern groups have proposed sweeping changes to Hong

Kong's animal-control laws in response to a rising number of grisly

animal abuse incidents.

 

Proposed changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance

include the creation of a dedicated police team to deal with cases of

animal cruelty.

 

``We believe there are a lot of unjustified killings. If the law is

adequately enforced, there would not be as many animal-cruelty cases.

The problem lies in police attitudes,'' legislator Albert Ho Chun-yan said.

 

Frontline animal welfare patroller Wong Kwok-har said she had received

arrogant responses from police officers, some of whom had tried to

persuade her not to file cases of animal cruelty to reduce their workload.

 

She said officers refused to follow up on cases unless she provided

video footage or photographic evidence.

 

``This is not the way laws are supposed to be enforced,'' Wong said.

 

Legislators also want to amend the Public Health (Animals and Birds)

Ordinance to improve the licensing and regulatory systems for the sale

and breeding of pets.

 

Lawmaker Choy So-yuk has proposed animal sellers be given the

responsibility of checking whether prospective buyers are allowed to

keep pets in their homes. The animal registration system, which

currently applies only to dogs, will also be expanded to include cats

and other pets, with Choy pushing for the implanting of microchips in

all pets so that owners of abandoned animals can be traced.

 

Other changes include the redefinition of ``cruelty to animals'' and the

criminalization of animal abandonment. Lawmaker Selina Chow Liang

Shuk-yee has also proposed a further relaxation of pet policies at

public housing estates. In addition, lawmakers want to increase the

transparency of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

and to eliminate its trap and kill policy. timothy.chui