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There is a good review of the Hong Kong legal situation for
animals by Professor Raymond Wacks of the University of Hong Kong in his South China
Morning Post Article, Animals in the Doghouse.
The Hong Kong laws can be searched:
Department of
Justice: Bilingual Laws Information System
Many of the Hong Kong laws are currently
under review through the Animal Welfare Advisory Group (AWAG) of the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). For more
information, please e-mail us:
For our proposals on Companion Animals (formerly known as
"Pets"), see Companion Animal Policies.
See
also:
Gary L. Francione: Animal
Law
Animal Rights Blog
Legal trends for decision makers
Michigan State University College of Law
Chinese
Culture Song Wei
UK animal welfare laws' relevant web
sites:
Australian animal welfare laws' relevant web sites:
animal welfare laws' relevant web sites relating to
EU, Canada and US:
animal welfare laws' web sites relevant to NZ
Control of Dogs (Hong Kong)
The Dangerous Dogs Regulation
The Dangerous Dogs Regulation was passed
by the Legislative Council on 17 May 2000.
1.
Fighting dogs
These comprise four types of dog – Pit Bull Terrier,
Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero and Japanese Tosa as well as
crosses involving any of these types.
It will be an offence to possess a fighting dog unless it has been
neutered. All fighting dogs must be identified with a special
collar at all times.
The import and breeding of fighting dogs will be illegal.
When these dogs are in a public place, including the common parts
of buildings such as lifts and lobbies, they must be held securely
on a leash not exceeding 1.5 metres in length and fitted securely
with a muzzle.
2.
Known dangerous dogs
If a dog attacks and causes serious injury to a person
or domestic animal in the absence of provocation
of any kind or if it repeatedly attacks or puts people in fear of
being attacked then a magistrate may declare a dog to be a known
dangerous dog.
Controls for known dangerous dogs will be essentially the
same as those for fighting dogs (neuter, identifying collar, leash
and muzzle in public places).
3.
Large dogs
Any dog over 20 kg in weight must be held on a leash
not more than 2 metres in length when in a public place.
Large dogs may be tied in public places on a leash not exceeding
1.5 metres in length provided this does not endanger the public,
other animals or the welfare of the dog.
Leashing requirements do not apply to large dogs in country parks
and when swimming at sea, providing ample opportunity for owners
to exercise their large dogs off leash. In addition, the Director
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation is prepared to offer
exemptions for large dogs that demonstrate in an examination that they can be controlled off leash.
Penalties
Penalties for breaches of this regulation include fines
of up to $25,000 and jail for up to 3 months for breaches of laws
relating to large dogs and known dangerous dogs. Fines of up to
$50,000 and jail for 6 months apply to certain provisions relating
to fighting dogs.
Further
information
If you require further information on the Dangerous
Dogs Regulation, you can contact the AFCD Animal Management Hot Line on
23623257 (operational daily from 8 am to 10.30 pm) or
any Animal Management Centre.
We consider the weight cut off of
20Kg to be far too low. Otherwise we consider the regulations
reasonable.
See Submission to Government
(March
1999).
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