(HK) Talks on more dog parks planned

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

By Colleen Lee

 

2008-05-01

 

Talks on more dog parks planned

 

The government plans to consult all district councils about whether to set

up dog parks in each district, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing

said at a Legislative Council meeting yesterday.

 

At present there is only one park, on the Wan Chai waterfront, specifically

for dogs.

 

Legislators also urged the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to open

more parks to dogs. Dogs are allowed in seven parks: Victoria Peak Garden,

Kowloon Tsai Park, Yau Tsim Mong Pet Garden, Cheung Wan Street Rest Garden,

Kwai Chung Castle Peak Road sitting-out area, Jockey Club Hing Shing Road

Playground and Tsing Yu Street Garden in Kwai Tsing.

 

Mr Tsang said the government would consider opening certain parks to dogs

only if it received requests from district councils or residents. We have to

consider different people's views when deciding whether to open more parks

to dogs.

 

Mr Tsang said he understood pet owners' demands for more space for their

pets, but that some park users thought opening parks to dogs would cause a

nuisance.

 

He said the government would open part of six open spaces planned for Tsuen

Wan, North District, Ma On Shan, Sheung Wan, Tung Chung and Sham Shui Po to

dogs by the end of next year.

 

The founder and chief officer of animal rights group Animal Earth, David

Wong Kai-yan, backed moves for more dog parks and hoped all public spaces

would allow pets. It is discriminatory to ban pets. Some district

councillors and residents are afraid that opening parks to dogs would cause

a nuisance. But it might also be disturbing if someone goes to a park with

his children and they don't behave well there.

 

 

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