Legal experts have concluded that Hong Kong’s current animal welfare laws are no longer adequate to address issues like pet abandonment and stray animals. They are urging the government to expedite long-overdue reforms to its ordinances, particularly in light of recent dog attacks.
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This call for action aligns with statements made by Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan, who announced on Wednesday that the authorities will assess whether existing penalties for pet abandonment need to be strengthened and will present recommendations to the Legislative Council by the end of the year.
The scrutiny of Hong Kong's animal welfare legislation, including the Protection of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance and Dangerous Dogs Regulations, has intensified following several high-profile incidents, such as the suspected fatal mauling of a woman by stray dogs in Yuen Long last Saturday. Kim McCoy, a practising barrister and founder of the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation, noted that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance primarily focuses on prohibiting acts of cruelty.