Media

Full review on Hong Kong’s animal welfare legislation

06 Jul 2010

 

Associate Professor of Law of the University of Hong Kong Ms Amanda Whitfort and SPCA (HK) Deputy Director of Welfare Dr Fiona Woodhouse will release a full review of Hong Kong's animal welfare legislation on Wednesday (July 7).

The research took two years to complete.  It was funded by the Research Grants Council and the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong government.

The review has found Hong Kong's anti cruelty legislation, which was enacted in 1935, lacks the necessary power to assist animals in danger of suffering and abuse.  The authors recommend significant legislative reform to impose on owners a positive duty to care properly for their animals. Such laws are already being enforced in other common law jurisdictions including the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

The review also found that licensing conditions for pet shops are seriously out of date when compared with those imposed in other common law jurisdictions, including Singapore. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has no power to revoke an animal trader's license, if a trader has been convicted of an animal cruelty offence. 

The continued lack of legislation controlling hobby breeders allows animals of dubious origin and health to be widely sold. Serious failures at local slaughterhouses and local farms to meet basic animal welfare standards were also noted in the review.

Media representatives are cordially invited to the press briefing, details are as follows:

Date: July 7, 2010 (Wednesday)

Time: 11am

Venue: Room 902, Knowles Building, HKU

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk  or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.