Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ10: Animal Watch Scheme
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(November 9):
Question:
The Police have recently introduced an "Animal Watch Scheme" (the Scheme) with a
view to stepping up work on intelligence gathering, investigation, education and
publicity in respect of cases of cruelty to animals. In this connection, will
the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the manpower and command structure for the implementation of the Scheme;
whether representatives of other government departments are included; the
differences in nature between the Scheme and the existing Animal Welfare Task
Group established by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, in
collaboration with the Police, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (HKSPCA), and
of the division of work between the two;
(b) how frontline police officers are briefed about the principles of the Scheme
and procedures for its implementation; whether it will be made a mandatory
requirement for these officers to attend relevant seminars or receive training;
if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(c) in respect of the enhancement of intelligence gathering, apart from
maintaining contact with HKSPCA, which animal welfare concern groups the Police
will collaborate with under the Scheme to put in place a notification mechanism
for cases of cruelty to animals; and of the operation mode of the notification
mechanism;
(d) given that quite a number of animals which are treated cruelly will be sent
to veterinary clinics for treatment, how, under the Scheme, information of such
cases is gathered from veterinarians, and how veterinarians are encouraged to
co-operate with the Police;
(e) based on the many cases of cruelty to animals which occurred in the past few
years, whether the Police have identified the black spots of such offences; if
so, how they will step up the preventive work at those black spots; and
(f) given that animal welfare concern groups have all along been advocating the
formation of an "Animal Police" dedicated to investigating cases involving
cruelty to animals, whether the Police have introduced the Scheme as an
alternative to the formation of an "Animal Police"; of the authorities' latest
attitude and stance towards the formation of an "Animal Police"?
Reply:
President,
The Government cares about animal rights. Over the years, a multi-pronged
strategy comprising education, publicity and law enforcement has been adopted to
raise public awareness of the subject. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Ordinance (Cap. 169) (the Ordinance) sets out clearly the penalty for crimes of
cruelty to animals. With the support of the Legislative Council, the
Administration increased the maximum penalty significantly in 2006 from a fine
of $5,000 and six months' imprisonment to a fine of $200,000 and three years'
imprisonment, so as to enhance the deterrent effect.
To further enhance co-operation in handling animal cruelty cases among the
departments and organisations concerned, the Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD), in conjunction with the Hong Kong Police Force
(Police), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (HKSPCA), set up a special working
group earlier this year to review the work on handling such cases. The working
group focuses on enhancing mutual support, developing guidelines for higher
efficiency, and establishing a mechanism for relevant departments and
organisations to provide professional advice, with a view to ensuring an
all-round investigation of animal cruelty cases. The working group will also
study the level of penalty imposed by the court for convicted cases. If the
penalty is considered to be too lenient, it will make recommendation to the
Department of Justice as necessary.
The "Animal Watch Scheme" (the Scheme) recently introduced by the Police will
step up co-operation among stakeholders for a joint effort to combat crimes of
cruelty to animals. Under the Scheme, the departments and organisations
concerned will undertake their duties in a coherent manner. The Police is
responsible for the investigation of animal cruelty cases, and will exchange
information with AFCD and HKSPCA regularly. AFCD, with its special teams for
animal management and welfare, will co-operate with other departments and
organisations on education, intelligence gathering, publicity and investigation,
as well as providing expert advice on animal cruelty cases. If necessary, AFCD
will also carry out postmortem investigation to find out the cause of death of
the animals concerned. HKSPCA provides medical service to animals hurt in the
incidents and supports a 24-hour hotline to gather information about animal
cruelty cases to assist the law enforcement agents.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The Scheme introduced by the Police aims to strengthen the Police's efforts
in the investigation of animal cruelty cases. Through enhanced co-operation with
different organisations and wider public involvement, more effective prevention
and detection of animal cruelty cases can be carried out. For instance, upon
receipt of reports of cruelty to animals, front-line police officers will
immediately seek professional assistance and advice from AFCD and HKSPCA, so
that investigation can be conducted in a more effective manner. The Scheme and
AFCD's inter-departmental special working group complement each other. With
regard to manpower and command structure, the Scheme is co-ordinated by the
Support Wing, the Crime Wing and the Police College of the Police and is
implemented by front-line officers.
(b) In mid-October this year, the Police introduced and provided details of the
Scheme through the television programme "Police Magazine" and the Force's
internal communication channels (including Offbeat, electronic Notice Board and
internal documents). The Police have arranged detection training courses and
relevant seminars for front-line police officers and also conducted sharing
sessions for crime investigation officers and staff of AFCD and HKSPCA on the
professional knowledge of handling animal cruelty cases. Since the introduction
of the Scheme, relevant courses and seminars have been well attended by
front-line and supervisory officers.
(c) and (d) The Scheme is supported by two professional veterinary associations
(i.e. the Hong Kong Veterinary Association and China (Hong Kong) Veterinary
Association), which will publicise the Government's messages on combating
cruelty to animals to their members (who are practising veterinarians). Their
members will be encouraged to report suspicious persons or suspected animal
cruelty cases with a view to strengthening the intelligence networks. At the
same time, the Police and AFCD welcome members of the public and animal concern
groups to participate in combating cruelty to animals. If the public are aware
of any animal cruelty cases, they can call the Police or report to AFCD via the
1823 Call Centre. Upon receipt of the reports, the relevant department will take
appropriate immediate action and follow-up investigation.
(e) The Police has not identified any particular modus operandi or black spots
of animal cruelty cases, and most of the incidents take place in secluded
locations or in the middle of the night. Apart from stepping up enforcement, the
most effective way to curb such animal cruelty cases is to enhance public
awareness of respect for life and care for animals. We will continue to
strengthen publicity work in this area.
(f) At present, officers from various government departments, including senior
veterinary officers, health officers, health inspectors, police officers and
authorised officers from AFCD, may enforce the Ordinance as appropriate. AFCD
has its special teams for animal management and welfare. The Crime Investigation
Teams of various police districts have adequate manpower, experience and
professional investigation skills to handle animal cruelty cases. Subject to the
distribution and the trend of the cases, the Police will consider deploying
dedicated teams to investigate the cases in a more comprehensive and focused way
in order to ensure early crime detection. The existing multi-agency approach is
further strengthened under the Scheme, contributing to more effective prevention
and detection of such crimes. With greater flexibility in the deployment of
resources, such arrangements are more effective in combating animal cruelty
cases than setting up an "Animal Police" team.
Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:22
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