Govt Unveils Animal Welfare Plan Full Of Teeth

The government is proposing a tough set of laws to strengthen animal welfare in Hong Kong, which would see violators jailed for up to 10 years or slapped with fines as high as HK$2 million, and officials given the right to enter premises and seize abused animals.

In a consultation paper released on Friday, the government proposes moves to ensure that pet owners and any other person in charge of an animal take steps to ensure the pets' welfare needs. The aim is to introduce the concept that owners have a duty to care for their animals, it says.

Authorities also give examples, such as providing the pets with clean water and a balanced diet, as well as a safe, clean and comfortable environment with suitable temperatures and ventilation.

Pet keepers should also take steps such as vaccinating their animals, to prevent them from getting sick. They should also provide the animals with regular exercise, opportunities for play and should keep them company.

The government also proposes that officials should be given the power to issue an improvement notice, which would specify what a pet keeper is required to do within a specified amount of time.

The officer would also be allowed to enter a premises to seize an animal if there’s reason to believe it is likely to suffer if the circumstances don’t change.

The government's also proposing to significantly increase the penalty for animal cruelty and let the courts disqualify those convicted of cruelty from keeping animals ever again, or for a specified period.

The existing maximum penalties for animal cruelty offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance are three years imprisonment or a fine of HK$200,000.

It is proposed that these be raised to 10 years in jail, and a maximum fine of HK$2 million.

A public consultation exercise on the matter will run for three months until late July.