Talks on more dog parks planned
The government plans to consult all district councils about whether to set up dog parks in each district, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing said at a Legislative Council meeting yesterday.
At present there is only one park, on the Wan Chai waterfront, specifically for dogs.
Legislators also urged the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to open more parks to dogs. Dogs are allowed in seven parks: Victoria Peak Garden, Kowloon Tsai Park, Yau Tsim Mong Pet Garden, Cheung Wan Street Rest Garden, Kwai Chung Castle Peak Road sitting-out area, Jockey Club Hing Shing Road Playground and Tsing Yu Street Garden in Kwai Tsing.
Mr Tsang said the government would consider opening certain parks to dogs only if it received requests from district councils or residents. 'We have to consider different people's views when deciding whether to open more parks to dogs.'
Mr Tsang said he understood pet owners' demands for more space for their pets, but that some park users thought opening parks to dogs would cause a nuisance.
He said the government would open part of six open spaces planned for Tsuen Wan, North District, Ma On Shan, Sheung Wan, Tung Chung and Sham Shui Po to dogs by the end of next year.
The founder and chief officer of animal rights group Animal Earth, David Wong Kai-yan, backed moves for more dog parks and hoped all public spaces would allow pets.
'It is discriminatory to ban pets. Some district councillors and residents are afraid that opening parks to dogs would cause a nuisance. But it might also be disturbing if someone goes to a park with his children and they don't behave well there.'
