Should people who live in public housing be allowed to keep pets?
Pulcheria Chung, 18 St Mary's Canossian College
The banning of pets in public housing estates for health reasons was a big issue a year ago. But let's put aside the original public housing rules for a moment and think about the question independently.
Firstly, I strongly believe that small pets, like birds, fish and turtles, should be allowed. These are normally kept in small tanks or cages that don't take up much space, and they don't need to go for walks like dogs. Neither do they make as much mess. So if size restrictions were enforced the space problem would be solved.
Secondly, we cannot deny the importance of animals to people, including residents in public housing estates. Research has shown that heart-disease patients with pets survive longer. Dogs and cats are also an important source of affection for the disabled and lonely senior citizens. Rent subsidy schemes for the elderly to allow them to keep animals in private housing did not prove practical, as the costs were too high.
Cleanliness could be promoted by teaching people how to keep pets hygienically, with penalties for those who violate the rules.
In short, I believe public housing residents should be allowed to keep cats and dogs, but with restrictions.
Oliver Kwan, 17 Delia School of Canada
I don't believe that people should be allowed to keep pets in public housing estates.
We need to be realistic about the situation. This is Hong Kong, we've had some terrible plagues in our city over the past few years. Animals kept in densely populated buildings, like public housing estates, would only increase the risk if another outbreak occurred. We shouldn't sacrifice public safety for a minority of pet owners.
Surveys have found that on average, 70 per cent of public housing estate residents said they weren't happy with people keeping pets in the building. I have no problem with pets, but if you're going to keep one you should do it responsibly. Don't live in a place where the majority have safety concerns about animals.
How can people say Hong Kong is ready for democracy when we can't even solve a relatively simple issue by adopting the majority's opinion? Why is the government trying to accommodate such a small minority?
Aside from the fact that most people don't want pets in their building, there's the issue of upkeep. Pets are not cheap - they need food and often require attention from vets, which don't come cheap. If a person can afford such a luxury, what are they doing in public housing? Isn't that reserved for people who can barely make ends meet?
