12 fined for cruelty to birds

Twelve men were fined a total of $12,500 for keeping 28 quail and a turtle dove in cloth bags without proper ventilation or water.

The 12 defendants were convicted in Eastern Court yesterday of cruelty to animals and possession of a protected wild animal.

The men were arrested on May 2 when a report was made to police that there was bird fighting and illegal gambling taking place in a Wan Chai flat belonging to one of the defendants.

The 28 quail died last week. Dr Jane McNae, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told the court that the deaths were caused by the stress of the change of environment and the spread of contagious diseases.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty.

They told the court that they had kept quail as pets in Pakistan and had wanted to do so in Hong Kong.