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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

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, such as 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 launched a public consultation exercise between October and November 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. The Government plans to table the Amendment Regulation before the Legislative Council in 2013.

Websites

Food and Health Bureau: www.fhb.gov.hk

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department: www.fehd.gov.hk

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: www.afcd.gov.hk

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