Editorial | Law on feeding wild animals must be clear
- Steps are needed to prevent people feeding wild animals. But the proposed law needs to be proportionate and clear so that people are not unwittingly caught by the legislation
Feeding the birds might seem an innocent activity, often enjoyed by children. But those who do so may soon be hit with a HK$5,000 (US$640) fixed penalty if proposed legal amendments proceed.
The government is seeking to increase fines for people who feed wild animals because of concerns the practice has fuelled an increase in sightings of boars in urban areas and injuries suffered by people who come into contact with them.
There are plans, being considered by the legislature, to include feral pigeons in the definition of wild animal. The pigeons, descended from domestic birds, do not currently fall within the scope of the ban.
The new fixed penalty would be accompanied by sharp increases in the maximum penalty for feeding wild animals, such as boars, monkeys and wild birds. A fine of up to HK$100,000 is proposed and a jail term of up to a year.
Steps are needed to prevent people feeding wild animals. But the law must be clear and proportionate. The plans have led to fears that people would unwittingly be caught by the legislation.