Public forums on proposals for enhancing animal welfare

The Government, through amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), proposes to extend the existing legislation which prohibits and penalises acts of cruelty to animals to include taking positive actions on looking after animals well. A three-month public consultation has been launched. To gauge the views of members of the public, the Government will hold four public forums.

Details of the four public consultation forums are as follows:

Date	Time	Venue	Primary Language
May 10 (Fri)	3pm – 5pm	Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum	Cantonese
May 20 (Mon)	10am – noon	Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library	Cantonese
May 23 (Thu)	3pm – 5pm	Cultural Activities Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall	English
June 5 (Wed)	3pm – 5pm	Cultural Activities Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall	Cantonese

     Members of the public are welcome to register to attend. The registration arrangements have already been posted on Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's dedicated website on the public consultation (www.pets.gov.hk/english/animal_health_and_welfare/Proposals_to_Enhance_Animal_Welfare.html).

     People who would like to attend the consultation forums should register via the dedicated website for seat reservation. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For enquiries, please call 2127 4890 during office hours.

     Apart from the public consultation forums, views on the consultation paper could be delivered by post to the Office of the Animal Management (Development) Division, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, 5/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Hong Kong, by fax to 3110 1336, or by email to cap169_amendment@afcd.gov.hk on or before July 31 this year.

     The Consultation paper can be downloaded from the dedicated website, the Food and Health Bureau's website (www.fhb.gov.hk) and the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/residents/government/publication/consultation/current.htm).