Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ18: Stray cattle
Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today
(March 22):
Question:
Some residents in Mui Wo and Sha Tau Kok have relayed to me that they have all
along been troubled by the nuisance caused by stray cattle. Although the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) set up a Cattle
Management Team (CMT) in 2011 and implemented a Capture-Sterilise-Relocate
programme to control the number of stray cattle, incidents of stray cattle
polluting the environment, obstructing traffic, damaging crops as well as
attacking residents and picnickers have still occurred from time to time. Some
Mui Wo residents have suggested relocating the stray cattle in Mui Wo to Tai A
Chau. In August 2016, AFCD sent its staff to conduct site inspections in Tai A
Chau and, after conducting a preliminary assessment, considered Tai A Chau a
suitable habitat for cattle. However, I have learnt that the relocation plan has
yet to be implemented due to insufficient resources. In this connection, will
the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the number of stray cattle across the territory in each of
the past five years, together with a breakdown by District Council district and
species of the cattle; whether there is an upward trend in the number of stray
cattle in Mui Wo; if so, whether the increase is caused by the natural breeding
of cattle, the migration of cattle from other places on Lantau Island to Mui Wo,
or other factors; whether it has assessed if stray cattle will pose any threat
to the personal safety of residents; if it has assessed, of the outcome;
(2) since the setting up of CMT, of the respective numbers of stray cattle on
Lantau Island which have been (i) captured, (ii) sterilised and (iii) relocated
by CMT officers, and those (iv) found to have returned to their pre-relocation
sites, together with a breakdown of the numbers by whether these stray cattle
were found in Mui Wo or other places;
(3) of the number of stray cattle on Lantau Island which were crushed to death
by vehicles in the past five years;
(4) of the outcome of the study conducted by AFCD on the installation of cattle
grids to limit the movements of stray cattle;
(5) whether the authorities will take forward the plan of relocating the stray
cattle in Mui Wo to Tai A Chau; if so, of the latest progress and how the
authorities will resolve the problem of having insufficient resources; if not,
the authorities' plan to resolve the problem of stray cattle causing nuisance;
and
(6) of the current staffing establishment of CMT; whether AFCD will increase the
manpower of CMT to expedite the handling of the stray cattle problem?
Reply:
President,
There are divergent views in the community on how best stray cattle should be
managed. Some are of the view that stray cattle have ecological value and should
be protected. In addition, as part of the community, stray cattle should be
allowed to live freely in their original dwelling places. On the other hand,
there are views that stray cattle should be relocated because they cause
obstruction to traffic, affect environmental hygiene, cause nuisance to the
daily lives of residents, and may damage crops at times. To strike a balance
among these conflicting views, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) set up in 2011 a dedicated Cattle Management Team (CMT) to
manage the issue of stray cattle through a multi-pronged approach, including
sterilising and relocating captured cattle, having regard to individual
circumstances of the places frequented by stray cattle.
My reply to the various parts of the question is given below:
(1) The species and numbers of cattle in various districts as recorded in a
territory-wide population survey of stray cattle commissioned by AFCD in 2013
are set out at Annex. According to the data collected by AFCD since 2011, there
has been an increase in the number of stray cattle in Mui Wo due to natural
breeding. Some residents living nearby had complained about the nuisance caused
by stray cattle. Since the end of 2011, AFCD has implemented the Capture-Sterilise-Relocate
programme mainly on Lantau Island and in Sai Kung to control cattle population
and reduce the nuisance caused to nearby residents by sterilising and relocating
the cattle to a more remote location in the same district.
(2) As at February 2017, the respective number of stray cattle captured,
sterilised and relocated in Mui Wo and other places on Lantau Island since the
setting up of the CMT is as follows:
Lantau
Mui Wo Other places
Captured* (heads) 26 208
Sterilised (heads) 26 119
Relocated* (heads) 19 187
Note*: Figures include stray cattle repeatedly captured or relocated.
AFCD does not have statistics on the number of stray cattle found to have
returned to their pre-relocation sites.
(3) According to the Police's records, there were a total of 17 traffic
accidents involving cattle on Lantau Island between 2013 and February 2017.
(4) After numerous site visits and discussions with the animal welfare
organisations (AWOs) concerned, AFCD has been exploring the feasibility of
installing a cattle grid on a trial basis in Sai Kung Country Park, with a view
to preventing the stray cattle from leaving their usual dwelling places. AFCD
has been liaising with the relevant departments on the technical feasibility and
implications to pedestrians and road users.
(5) Given the divergent views of AWOs, the Government has no plan for the time
being to relocate stray cattle to Tai A Chau. However, AFCD is planning to
relocate the cattle in Mui Wo to the hills at Tung Wan Tau in the district on a
trial basis in order to minimise their movements in urban areas and the nuisance
caused to nearby residents.
(6) The current staffing establishment of the CMT is as follows: one Veterinary
Officer, two Field Officers II, four Field Assistants and one Driver. The
Government will examine from time to time whether the resources are adequate to
cope with the management of stray cattle.
Ends/Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:45
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LCQ18 Annex