Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ15: Abandoned plough oxen
Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 4):
Question :
I notice that, with the decline of the agriculture industry in Hong Kong, an increasing number of plough oxen are abandoned in rural areas. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has statistics on the current total number of plough oxen in the territory, and the number of abandoned ones; if so, of the details;
(b) whether it has devised measures to protect and ranch these oxen; if so, of the details of such measures and their implementation; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) as there are many plough oxen abandoned in Tai O, whether it has formulated policies particularly for the protection of these oxen, or considered keeping them in country parks for nature education purpose; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply :
President,
(a) There are some 750 cattle and 150 buffalos in Hong Kong. With the exception of less than 10 cattle kept by farmers and 90 cattle kept in dairy farms, the remaining 800 head are feral animals. These feral cattle and buffalos consist of animals which were originally abandoned by earlier villagers and farmers, and offspring of those animals.
(b) The local cattle and buffalos are not protected animals and have no significant conservation role in our ecosystem. Hence, in the context of our conservation policies, there are no specific measures to protect or ranch these feral animals. However, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) would catch these animals if they cause nuisances. Since January 2002, the department has caught a total of 282 cattle and 49 buffalos.
(c) There are no feral buffalo in Tai O, but there are some feral cattle there. As cattle are not protected animals, there is no plan to conserve them for nature education purpose. AFCD welcomes discussion with local communities who are interested in protecting the animals on programmes to manage the feral cattle around their villages.
END/Wednesday, December 4, 2002
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