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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries
Quarantine Detector Dog Programme
The Quarantine Detector Dog Programme was introduced to help combat illegal importation of animals. The dogs are trained to detect live mammals, birds, reptiles and animal products hidden in luggage or under layers of clothing. These dogs are deployed to various boundary control points including Lok Ma Chau, Shenzhen Bay and the Hong Kong International Airport. In 2013, more than 280,000 travellers, 1,400 vehicles and 40,000 parcels were screened.
Animal Management
The AFCD adopts various animal management measures to control animal diseases, regulate the trading of animals, and promote respect and care for animals.
Hong Kong has been rabies-free since the 1980s. In 2013, some 61,000 dogs were licensed and vaccinated against rabies. About 7,500 stray dogs and 3,300 stray cats were brought to the AFCD Animal Management Centres during the year, including some surrendered by their owners. The AFCD runs a re-homing programme for the healthy and well-tempered ones.
All pet shops selling animals must be licensed by the AFCD which inspects these shops. regularly to ensure that they do not contravene any of the licence conditions. Pet shops are required to obtain dogs for sale only from approved sources. The AFCD runs a programme to promote respect and care for animals. It uses a broad range of communication tools to drive home the message. In 2013, 60 educational talks and 23 thematic exhibitions, roving exhibitions and carnivals were held to promote responsible pet ownership and rabies prevention.
Animal Welfare
The AFCD collaborates with 12 animal welfare organisations (AWOs) in providing animal re- homing services, covering dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and reptiles. The AFCD provides support to its partner organisations in the re-homing of animals, including inviting AWOS to join forces with the AFCD in holding 'Animal Adoption Day' activities and providing free de-sexing services for animals re-homed through the partner organisations.
To improve the handling of animal cruelty reports or complaints, an inter-departmental special working group was set up involving the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and government departments, including the Hong Kong Police Force, the FEHD and the AFCD, to examine the government's work on handling animal cruelty cases, devise guidelines and to ensure that animal welfare is well protected. The AFCD has enhanced its co-operation with AWOS through expanding the membership of the Animal Welfare Advisory Group (AWAG) and co-opting more representatives of AWOS to the various working groups under AWAG.
The AFCD conducted a public consultation exercise in 2012 on proposals to better regulate pet trading. These include tightening regulation of persons who breed and sell dogs with a licensing scheme; increasing penalties under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Animal Trader) Regulations; and empowering the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation to revoke animal trader licences under certain circumstances. In April 2013, the AFCD reported on the outcome of the consultation to the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and
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