Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ18: Prevention of cruelty to animals
Following is a question by the Dr Hon Helena Wong and a written reply by
the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative
Council today (October 16):
Question:
As cases of animals being cruelly treated have occurred time and again
in recent years, various animal welfare concern groups are urging the
Police to step up actions to combat such crimes. In this connection,
will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the Hong Kong Police College will provide any training
course to teach police officers the skills of investigating cases of
cruel treatment of animals; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons
for that; and
(b) whether it will make reference to the composition of the existing
part-time special teams (such as the Police Negotiation Cadre, the Force
Search Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, etc.) within the
Police and set up an Animal Police Team comprising interested voluntary
police officers; if so; of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Currently, a number of government departments and organisations are
involved in handling animal cruelty cases. For the purpose of enhancing
co-operation 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) (SPCA), set up in 2011 a working group to
examine the work on handling such cases. The Police, in collaboration
with AFCD, SPCA, veterinary associations and animal concern groups,
introduced the Animal Watch Scheme in 2011 to fight animal cruelty cases
through a four-pronged approach covering education, publicity,
intelligence gathering and investigation. The Scheme aims at
strengthening Police efforts in the investigation of animal cruelty
cases. By enhancing co-operation between the Police and different
organisations and promoting wider public involvement, it enables more
effective prevention and investigation of animal cruelty cases.
My reply to the two parts of the question is as follows:
(a) In 2011, the Police launched the Animal Watch Scheme. To strengthen
its efforts in the investigation of animal cruelty cases and help
front-line officers better understand the multi-agency approach adopted
under the Scheme, the Police organises seminars as and when appropriate
and invites AFCD and SPCA staff to share their experience, so that
front-line officers are kept abreast of the prevailing trends. In the
various training courses run by the Police College, officers are briefed
on offences involving cruelty to animals as well as the professional
knowledge and skills required for investigating such cases. The Police
will also use an e-learning software to provide police officers with an
additional learning platform to ensure that cases of cruelty to animals
are handled in a professional, comprehensive and consistent manner.
(b) On the part of the Police, all cases of cruelty to animals are
currently investigated by crime investigation teams. Members of the
teams are professionally trained in crime investigation and equipped to
handle such cases effectively. The crime investigation teams in various
police districts have adequate manpower, experience and professional
knowhow to follow up cases of cruelty to animals amongst others. Should
such cases register a rising trend in a certain district, the Police
will consider deploying special team to tackle the cases with a view to
delivering early results through more focussed and robust
investigations. These arrangements allow the Police to flexibly deploy
its limited resources to meet competing demands, including effective
management of animal cruelty cases under the Animal Watch Scheme.
Ends/Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:35
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