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Letters | In Hong Kong, ‘animal-friendly’ should be the default setting
Readers discuss how Hong Kong can become a genuinely animal-friendly city, and the implementation of pet-friendly regulations
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Hong Kong’s urban identity is at a turning point. The expansion of pet-inclusive parks and the pilot scheme for pet-friendly restaurants are welcome steps towards becoming an animal-friendly city – but they sit uneasily alongside a largely animal-hostile framework.
The Tai Po fire, in which dozens of animals died, showed that many Hongkongers see their companion animals as family. The public grief that followed ran deep, and this disenfranchised grief is starting to be recognised by many in the community.
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As someone who has channelled the grief of pet loss into studying the human-animal bond, I have seen how powerful this bond can be as a force for social good. Our animal-assisted social-emotional learning programmes in primary schools show that guided interactions with animals foster empathy, emotional regulation and resilience. Our work with socially withdrawn young people demonstrates that therapy dogs can be non-judgmental bridges back to society.
Hong Kong needs to embrace a “one welfare” approach, recognising that the well-being of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance should be updated to include a proactive statutory duty of care, so that neglect is prevented rather than punished after the fact.
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The capture and killing of wild boars that enter urban areas has highlighted how wildlife is framed mainly as a nuisance. A modernised approach would prioritise coexistence through education, habitat planning and non-lethal management, allowing hikers and nature lovers to share space with wildlife safely and respectfully.
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