Letters | Hong Kong must take pragmatic approach to improving animal welfare
Readers discuss the complexities of balancing animal protection with economic imperatives, the benefits of engaging the elderly in esports, and traffic arrangements on Christmas Eve
Animal conservation and protection is a complex issue. It is true that Ocean Park promotes conservation while also making a profit from shows involving captive animals. This may seem ironic, but we should acknowledge the challenges conservation organisations face.
For these organisations to continue to operate, they must rely on donations or their own income. It is understandable that they would seek to maximise ways to increase their income source.
As for horse racing, it should be noted that it is a Hong Kong tradition. While I agree that forcing horses to race is cruel to them, it is not realistic to expect the sport to end in the short term. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is deeply rooted in Hong Kong’s economy and a major donor in the charity sector. Horse racing is a major revenue source for the organisation. Putting a halt to it may cause unexpected social impact that may do more harm than good. Any end to the sport must be a long-term goal requiring discussions involving all relevant parties.
With careful and pragmatic planning, I hope Hong Kong can improve its animal conservation efforts in the year ahead.
Zeng Kam Yuk, Sha Tin