Officials under fire on strays
THE Government has been accused of ignoring the problem of stray dogs.
Speaking after a 45-minute discussion with Legco's complaint unit, United Democrats Wan Chai District Board member Susanna Yeung Wan-king said the Government failed to enforce laws properly.
After the meeting, legislators said they would transfer the complaint to the Legco in-house committee, to decide which sub-committee was responsible.
The legislators would also ask the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to step up controls in urban areas.
Ms Yeung said 26 stray dogs were caught in Tai Hang six months ago.
She was worried about a recurrence of the Liu Wing-yan tragedy - the girl killed by a Great Dane in Sheung Shui last weekend.
Stray dogs were a serious problem in Eastern district because many developments were designed along hillsides, which provided good shelter for wild dogs.
Eastern District Board member Chan Tim-shing said the authorities should hire more staff and introduce higher penalties against irresponsible owners.
An unregistered dog bit a seven-year-old girl in Tsuen Wan yesterday.
Lai Choi-shan was with her nine-year-old sister when a black chow ran out from a hut in Kwong Pan Tin Village.
The two girls were on their way to visit a schoolmate when the attack occurred.
The girl was taken to Lady Trench Clinic where she was treated and discharged.
