https://www.scmp.com/rss/515690/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong police have arrested two women on suspicion of animal cruelty after a sick three-month-old Golden Retriever was found dumped in a rubbish bin in Mong Kok, covered in sewage, and later euthanised. Inspector Yip Ho-lam said on Tuesday that police opened an investigation Saturday morning after a street cleaner discovered the puppy inside a bin in the alley behind 104 Hak Po Street. Officers from the animal crime investigation team later took over the case. “The puppy was immediately... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353306/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-women-after-sewage-soaked-puppy-found-bin-put-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353306/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-women-after-sewage-soaked-puppy-found-bin-put-down?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:19:30 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Traffic accidents involving animals in Hong Kong have surged more than 11-fold over the past four years, with advocacy groups attributing it to a wave of pet abandonments and the blurring of urban-rural boundaries caused by large-scale development. The latest data submitted to the Legislative Council on Wednesday showed reports of animal-related traffic accidents received by police surged from 36 cases in 2021 to 416 in 2025. However, authorities do not maintain a district-level breakdown of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352667/traffic-accidents-involving-animals-hong-kong-surge-11-fold-4-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352667/traffic-accidents-involving-animals-hong-kong-surge-11-fold-4-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 00:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is understandable frustration about a lack of progress fighting animal cruelty in Hong Kong. Efforts to update existing laws against animal cruelty are long overdue in a city where pet ownership and public concern about animal welfare are strong. Now there is a spotlight on enforcement. A report released by the Office of the Ombudsman underscored the need for officials to respond to growing public concern and international trends regarding animal welfare. Existing procedures were described... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350817/amid-growing-concern-hong-kong-should-move-faster-animal-cruelty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350817/amid-growing-concern-hong-kong-should-move-faster-animal-cruelty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s conservation officers will step up coordination with police to carry out joint operations to enter private premises when investigating suspected animal abuse, following an ombudsman’s report that found existing procedures ineffective. A lawmaker on Friday also backed strengthening collaboration rather than granting Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) staff the power to enter flats, noting that investigative expertise rested with police. Jackie Yip Yin, an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350433/hong-kong-strengthen-police-coordination-animal-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350433/hong-kong-strengthen-police-coordination-animal-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:06:45 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s ombudsman has urged the government to empower conservation officers to enter people’s homes to investigate suspected animal cruelty cases, describing existing procedures as “ineffective” with less than 1 per cent of reported cases resulting in prosecutions. A report released on Thursday on the Office of the Ombudsman’s latest direct investigation operation also called for strengthening penalties against illegal animal traps, describing current fines as “no deterrence” against the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350359/give-officials-more-power-probe-suspected-animal-cruelty-cases-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350359/give-officials-more-power-probe-suspected-animal-cruelty-cases-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:22:15 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The founder of Hong Kong online shopping platform HKTVmall has broken his silence over a science project involving controversial animal experiments, saying the research he supported was meant to reduce elderly patients’ suffering from illness. Ricky Wong Wai-kay, vice-chairman and group chief executive officer of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company, the platform’s parent company and a listed firm, wrote in a social media post on Saturday that its experiments were intended to improve the quality... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349901/hktvmalls-ricky-wong-says-firms-research-aims-improve-quality-life-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349901/hktvmalls-ricky-wong-says-firms-research-aims-improve-quality-life-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:07:21 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I note with great concern the plan, announced in the 2026-2027 budget speech, to build a multi-storey pig farm in Hong Kong. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) says this industrial pig farm will be environmentally friendly. However, in actuality, such a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3349594/multi-storey-pig-farm-not-hong-kong-please?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3349594/multi-storey-pig-farm-not-hong-kong-please?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A 10cm-long (4-inch) turtle has died after apparently falling in Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin. Police said on Saturday that they were alerted at 2.09pm by a security guard about a turtle suspected of having fallen from a height at No 185 Hammer Hill Road. Online footage and images showed the turtle lying motionless on a playground mat. In Hong Kong, animal cruelty is punishable by up to three years in jail and a fine of HK$200,000 (US$25,530) upon conviction. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349746/turtle-found-dead-after-apparent-fall-hong-kongs-wong-tai-sin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349746/turtle-found-dead-after-apparent-fall-hong-kongs-wong-tai-sin?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:01 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu An international animal rights group and a veterinary organisation have called for a public boycott of Hong Kong’s major online retailer, HKTVmall, after its parent company revealed a life science project testing the viability of detached animal heads and limbs. The two groups staged an hour-long protest on Friday outside the HKTVmall building in Tseung Kwan O, demanding the company disclose more details of the experiments and stop animal testing. The Hong Kong Technology Venture Company, parent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349654/hong-kong-animal-groups-urge-hktvmall-boycott-over-life-science-experiments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349654/hong-kong-animal-groups-urge-hktvmall-boycott-over-life-science-experiments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Shortly before the evening rush hour recently, chaos erupted at Hong Kong’s Wu Kai Sha MTR station when a wild boar stormed through the concourse. The animal, about 1.2 metres long and weighing around 40kg, knocked down an elderly man. The charging boar left a trail of blood on the station floor, injuring three other residents in a frenzied dash towards a nearby bus terminus and housing estates. “I saw it rampaging at the bus terminus while residents followed, snapping photos,” a woman working... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:30:10 +0000 Ambrose Li,Danny Mok Ambrose Li,Danny Mok The parent company of Hong Kong online retailer HKTVmall has defended its life science project involving testing the viability of detached animal heads and limbs, responding to animal ethics concerns by saying no pets were experimented on. The Hong Kong Technology Venture Company, which revealed the project in its annual results on Monday, said it believed the research to be a world first that could be applied to organ transplants, potentially extending human lifespan. “The related experiments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348638/hktvmall-parent-firm-under-fire-testing-how-long-detached-animal-heads-can-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348638/hktvmall-parent-firm-under-fire-testing-how-long-detached-animal-heads-can-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:14:21 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is still finding its balance between urban development and its wildlife. Tragic encounters on consecutive days earlier this month were a reminder of that. First, the authorities euthanised eight wild boars – two adults and six juveniles – after they wandered into a residential area near Chuk Yuen North Estate in Wong Tai Sin. The next day, a car struck a buffalo on a highway in Yuen Long, disrupting traffic for hours before the animal was euthanised because of severe injuries. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348120/balance-vital-urban-hong-kong-coexist-wild-animals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348120/balance-vital-urban-hong-kong-coexist-wild-animals?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A man has been injured by two fighting cows while hiking near a Hong Kong reservoir. The 67-year-old reported the incident to police at about 7.30am on Monday after seeing two animals fighting on the MacLehose Trail, near the main dam of Shing Mun Reservoir in the New Territories. He said he was ‘caught in the crossfire’ during the chaos and was struck by one of the animals. The man sustained injuries to his fingers and knees and was taken to Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan. Meanwhile, at around... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347550/man-injured-after-being-caught-between-fighting-cows-hong-kong-hiking-trail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347550/man-injured-after-being-caught-between-fighting-cows-hong-kong-hiking-trail?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:02:10 +0000 Kevin Li Kevin Li Animal activists have urged Hong Kong authorities to review their culling strategy for wild boars and to introduce measures such as animal bridges to reduce human-wildlife conflict in urban areas following the recent deaths of eight wild pigs and a buffalo. They warned that as urban expansion, particularly the Northern Metropolis project, continued to erode wildlife habitats through the clearing of large tracts of land, inadequate city planning would exacerbate the problem, endangering more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347080/call-review-over-how-hong-kong-manages-wild-boars-and-buffaloes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347080/call-review-over-how-hong-kong-manages-wild-boars-and-buffaloes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Leopold Chen,Oscar Liu Leopold Chen,Oscar Liu An injured buffalo has been euthanised after it was struck by a car on a Hong Kong highway on Wednesday morning, leaving it with a severely fractured leg, authorities have said. Dashcam footage circulating online captured the moment the buffalo emerged from roadside shrubbery into the fast lane of a Yuen Long highway, where an oncoming vehicle was unable to brake in time. The animal rolled over after hitting the ground and tried to stand up slowly but failed. Following the heavy impact, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346951/injured-cow-brings-rush-hour-traffic-standstill-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346951/injured-cow-brings-rush-hour-traffic-standstill-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:33:19 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s conservation authorities captured and put down eight wild boars in Wong Tai Sin on Tuesday following a report from residents. Police said staff from the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) tranquillised the animals – two large boars and six smaller ones – before removing them. The force received a report at 10.07am of several wild boars near Chuk Yuen (North) Estate in Wong Tai Sin, and officers were dispatched to assess the situation. The AFCD said it had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346868/8-wild-boars-captured-hong-kongs-wong-tai-sin-neighbourhood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346868/8-wild-boars-captured-hong-kongs-wong-tai-sin-neighbourhood?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:00:13 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A wild boar bit a hiker in Hong Kong before it fell down a flight of stairs and died, according to police. A police spokesman said the victim, 57, had arrived at a public toilet at Boon Kin Village in Tseung Kwan O on Friday morning while hiking with her husband, also 57, and a friend, when the boar suddenly emerged and chased her. Shocked, the woman fell, hitting her head – resulting in swelling on her forehead – and scratching her limbs, police said. Some witnesses reportedly said nearby... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345776/wild-boar-bites-hiker-tumbles-its-death-down-flight-stairs-village?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345776/wild-boar-bites-hiker-tumbles-its-death-down-flight-stairs-village?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:55:57 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities arrested a man after the discovery of 14 endangered reptiles, including a crocodile and two pythons, at an industrial site in Kwai Chung. A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said on Wednesday evening that officers arrested the man in a blitz operation the previous night. “The AFCD will remain vigilant and continue to monitor and collect intelligence through various channels and proactively take enforcement action to combat offences... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345472/man-arrested-after-14-endangered-reptiles-found-kwai-chung-industrial-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345472/man-arrested-after-14-endangered-reptiles-found-kwai-chung-industrial-site?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:58:16 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong police have arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of animal cruelty in connection with graphic images and videos circulating online that depicted degrading acts, including sexual abuse, against cats, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said police arrested the boy on Tuesday, after authorities in mainland China conducted an investigation into the online images. Mainland police launched the probe after a series of animal abuse videos and photos were posted online in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345314/hong-kong-boy-14-held-over-online-videos-photos-depicting-abuse-cats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345314/hong-kong-boy-14-held-over-online-videos-photos-depicting-abuse-cats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:24:40 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong A wild boar was euthanised in Hong Kong hours after it roamed inside an MTR station and a housing estate on Friday, injuring five people who were either knocked down, bitten or had attempted to capture the animal. Police said they received multiple reports of sightings of the boar at Wu Kai Sha station and the Lake Silver housing complex at 5.08pm. A woman, 68, was reportedly bitten by the animal, police said. Two men and another woman, aged 45 to 87, were knocked down. They were taken to Prince... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344905/3-injured-hong-kong-after-wild-boar-wanders-residential-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344905/3-injured-hong-kong-after-wild-boar-wanders-residential-area?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:12:11 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Amanda Cheung – entrepreneur, philanthropist and entertaining conversationalist – is quickly jotting down notes and sketching out mind maps when I catch up with her on an average Wednesday afternoon. The born-and-raised Hongkonger is managing director of the charity First Initiative Foundation (FIF), established in 2010 by her mother, jewellery designer and philanthropist Michelle Ong. Cheung seems to talk – and think – with her hands, as if an endless stream of thoughts and ideas is at her... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3344294/amanda-cheung-reimagining-philanthropy-nightlife-and-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3344294/amanda-cheung-reimagining-philanthropy-nightlife-and-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A dog suspected to have been poisoned was found dead in Hong Kong’s New Territories on Sunday, the fifth such case in the past week, according to police. The force on Sunday said that between February 16 and Saturday, it had received four reports involving the discovery of five dead dogs suspected to have been poisoned in an open space on Liu Pok Road in Lok Ma Chau. The latest case had been classified as “cruelty to animals” following a preliminary investigation, but no arrests have been made... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344276/5-dogs-found-poisoned-death-hong-kongs-new-territories-single-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344276/5-dogs-found-poisoned-death-hong-kongs-new-territories-single-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:49:06 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong police are investigating the suspected poisoning of four dogs on farms in the northern New Territories, with an animal welfare group saying another canine was missing and describing the cases as “heartbreaking”. The Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation said on Friday that the incidents were among at least 19 cases documented by the group and linked to poisonings in the local area since last year. The group added that lethal poison baits had been placed on farms in areas such as Kwu Tung... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344167/police-probe-suspected-poisoning-4-dogs-2-more-canines-missing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344167/police-probe-suspected-poisoning-4-dogs-2-more-canines-missing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:53:45 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words 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... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342995/hong-kong-animal-friendly-should-be-default-setting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342995/hong-kong-animal-friendly-should-be-default-setting?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong animal rights activists have called on the government to create a list of approved pets after an abandoned 85kg (187lbs) alligator snapping turtle was found eating fish in a New Territories pond. They also called on authorities to microchip turtles sold to the public, toughen penalties for letting pets loose in the wild and update the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance before pushing further ahead with a “pet-friendly” society. Bon Chan Chung-pong, founder of Turtle’s Inn, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342724/call-tougher-animal-welfare-laws-after-invasive-turtle-found-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342724/call-tougher-animal-welfare-laws-after-invasive-turtle-found-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:00:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The recent incident that saw a routine pond-cleaning operation go horribly wrong and kill more than 110 fish at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O was more than a misadventure. To many animal lovers and rights activists, it amounts to a tragic case of unlawful killing that highlights the troubling gaps in respect for living beings in our advanced society. The sorry episode came to light after images of dozens of colourful koi and other species lying dead on a wet brick pavement at King Lam... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341812/hong-kong-should-see-animal-protection-shared-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341812/hong-kong-should-see-animal-protection-shared-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities are investigating the discovery of a severely decomposed whale carcass discovered on a beach in Sai Kung. Authorities were alerted to the decomposed carcass, measuring 11 metres (36.1 feet) in length, on Thursday after villagers found it on the beach at Ham Tin Wan, in Sai Kung East Country Park. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) deployed officers to the scene, with preliminary findings suggesting that the animal was a baleen whale. Based on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341738/discovery-badly-decomposed-whale-carcass-sai-kung-beach-triggers-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341738/discovery-badly-decomposed-whale-carcass-sai-kung-beach-triggers-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:56:09 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a supervisor from a cleaning company for suspected animal cruelty after more than 110 fish died while a pond was being cleaned at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O. The woman, a 51-year-old supervisor from Fai Kee Environmental Cleaning, was taken into custody on Wednesday. She was later released on bail and was required to report back to police next month. Six workers from the contractor removed about 200 fish and several turtles from the pond near King Min... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341720/hong-kong-supervisor-held-over-cruelty-after-botched-pond-clean-kills-110-fish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341720/hong-kong-supervisor-held-over-cruelty-after-botched-pond-clean-kills-110-fish?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:28:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong dog lovers are looking forward to a special day out when, for the first time, they will be able to travel on most trains and some buses with their beloved pets. The move, applying to as many as 1,200 dogs, will only last for a day – March 1. It is part of Dogathon, a fundraising drive organised by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). But the rare opportunity to take pooches on public transport is a breakthrough which should lead to the further lifting... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340115/walk-pet-friendly-path-hong-kong-needs-comprehensive-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340115/walk-pet-friendly-path-hong-kong-needs-comprehensive-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Animal welfare groups have criticised a Hong Kong pet shop for offering a cat rental service, calling the move unethical and harmful to the felines’ well-being. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said on Wednesday that it had sent staff to inspect the shop in North Point and reminded its operator to comply with the law. In a social media post – which appears to have been since removed – the Petbook pet shop advertised a “cat friend rental” service. It offered people... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339892/animal-welfare-groups-slam-hong-kong-pet-shop-offering-cat-rental-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339892/animal-welfare-groups-slam-hong-kong-pet-shop-offering-cat-rental-service?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:44:42 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Illegal dog trapping and cat smuggling have become alarmingly common, with an animal rescue group reporting that it saved 351 animals in Hong Kong over the past six months – an average of two per day. As Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, now in its 10th year, released a report on Tuesday detailing the condition of the animals it had saved over the past six months, its founder – who led most of the operations – told the Post how brutal recent cases had become. Founder Kent Luk Ka-chit said that in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338969/hong-kong-shelter-saves-351-animals-6-months-trapping-smuggling-cases-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338969/hong-kong-shelter-saves-351-animals-6-months-trapping-smuggling-cases-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:30:18 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Up to 1,200 dogs will be allowed to ride on most major rail lines in Hong Kong on March 1 for an animal protection charity’s annual flagship fundraising event, marking a historic first for the local train network. The Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said on Monday that the arrangement was for Dogathon 2026, scheduled to take place at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The event is expected to attract more than 3,000 people to join a 5km (3.1-mile) walk with their dogs... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338802/1200-dogs-allowed-travel-hong-kongs-major-rail-lines-fundraiser-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338802/1200-dogs-allowed-travel-hong-kongs-major-rail-lines-fundraiser-event?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:29:15 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to the letter, “Let 2026 be the year we are kinder to animals” (December 25). 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... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338364/hong-kong-must-take-pragmatic-approach-improving-animal-welfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338364/hong-kong-must-take-pragmatic-approach-improving-animal-welfare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 03:30:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The New Year is a time for renewal, not just for us, but for the animals who share our city and our planet. As Hong Kong prepares to welcome 2026, we face an important question: will we continue to accept animal suffering as entertainment and “tradition”, or will we choose... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3337423/let-2026-be-year-we-are-kinder-animals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3337423/let-2026-be-year-we-are-kinder-animals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Cheung Siu-ling struggles to fight back tears whenever she looks at the 600 goats she has kept for years at a farm near Hong Kong’s border. By the end of next month, the herd will either have to be relocated or put down. The owner, who is in her fifties, has kept goats for more than two decades, and will have to move them out of their current home, a two-storey shed in Hung Shui Kiu, to make way for the Northern Metropolis megaproject. “I’ve tried so hard to find a new place that fits them, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337195/fate-600-goats-balance-deadline-nears-move-hong-kong-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337195/fate-600-goats-balance-deadline-nears-move-hong-kong-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 01:00:30 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The fire that swept through a Hong Kong housing estate last month took a terrible toll, with 160 lives lost and thousands displaced. At a time of such tragedy, as survivors grieve the loss of loved ones and begin trying to rebuild their lives, the plight of pets caught in the blaze might seem a minor consideration. But the impressive rescue of several hundred animals from the stricken Wang Fuk Court has brought welcome relief and comfort to those victims who have been reunited with their beloved... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3336208/tai-po-pet-rescues-put-hong-kongs-compassion-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3336208/tai-po-pet-rescues-put-hong-kongs-compassion-show?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Nearly 300 pets have been rescued from the deadly inferno that engulfed a Hong Kong housing estate last week, including fish, parrots and turtles, with a charity leader saying the recovery efforts have “strengthened her belief in humanity”. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in a social media post that as of 8pm on Wednesday, 364 animals had been found since the fire, including 294 rescued alive and 70 discovered dead. A total of 173 pets remained missing, bringing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335207/charity-leaders-faith-humanity-renewed-294-pets-rescued-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335207/charity-leaders-faith-humanity-renewed-294-pets-rescued-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:22:44 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A stingray that an angler unexpectedly caught in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour earlier this week is believed to be an endangered species, with Ocean Park saying the marine animal is likely to have entered local waters by mistake. A video went viral on social media this week showing the moment a large ray, commonly referred to in Chinese as a “devil fish”, was hooked and seen struggling near the waterfront in Shau Kei Wan. The footage showed the fish’s distinct flat, disc-shaped body and long tail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332545/hong-kong-hooked-endangered-stingray-fished-out-victoria-harbour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332545/hong-kong-hooked-endangered-stingray-fished-out-victoria-harbour?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:46:28 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong continues to shake off impressions that it is a hub for international wildlife trafficking, most recently with a UN award recognising the city’s progress in fighting such crimes. Authorities deserve praise for their efforts, but continued support will be needed in the face of a global rise in endangered species smuggling. The Customs and Excise Department was recognised last month with an “impact” award from the United Nations Environment Programme for its role in the jailing of a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332159/hong-kongs-efforts-are-having-impact-against-wildlife-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332159/hong-kongs-efforts-are-having-impact-against-wildlife-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:15:11 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong customs has pledged to ramp up the detection of illicit fund flows in large-scale wildlife smuggling cases after winning a UN award for the city’s first money-laundering conviction involving this type of trafficking. The Customs and Excise Department received an “impact” award from the United Nations Environment Programme last month for its role in the jailing of a 37-year-old man in September for 40 months over a live coral smuggling case involving about HK$6.7 million (US$862,000) in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3331536/hong-kong-customs-vows-tackle-fund-flows-large-scale-wildlife-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3331536/hong-kong-customs-vows-tackle-fund-flows-large-scale-wildlife-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:00:18 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung As news of restaurant closures has become commonplace in Hong Kong, it’s a refreshing change to hear of an establishment marking 130 years in business. That’s the enviable position of Central restaurant Ser Wong Fun, founded in 1895, in the town of Dali, in the Nanhai district of Guangdong province, and specialising in Cantonese snake soup, a dish popular during the colder months due to its warming benefits. Fourth-generation owner Gigi Ng Chui-po has spearheaded, if not a revival, then a... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3328529/snake-soup-restaurant-ser-wong-fun-marks-130-years-serving-iconic-hong-kong-dish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3328529/snake-soup-restaurant-ser-wong-fun-marks-130-years-serving-iconic-hong-kong-dish?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Director Au Cheuk-man spent four years making a documentary chronicling the work of an animal welfare group that rescues animals in different corners of Hong Kong, including rural areas and underground casinos. The film, which began as a six-month commitment, unexpectedly turned into a four-year journey from 2019 to 2023, during which Au and Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter tracked efforts to save and rehome 40 stray animals. Au, who previously directed another documentary about animal protection,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328638/new-film-chronicles-animal-welfare-groups-efforts-save-hong-kongs-strays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328638/new-film-chronicles-animal-welfare-groups-efforts-save-hong-kongs-strays?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 07:00:33 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The 2025 policy address, proposing a trial scheme to allow pet dogs in eateries, marks a long-overdue shift, recognising a change in the city’s social fabric. Yet, while this move is positive, it is reactive rather than proactive, a concession, not a strategy. If Hong Kong aims to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327577/what-hong-kong-must-do-truly-harness-pet-economys-potential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327577/what-hong-kong-must-do-truly-harness-pet-economys-potential?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Faye Bradley Faye Bradley Just days before Christmas 2023, Lili Gleason, a 45-year-old homemaker in Hong Kong, was scrolling through Facebook when a post on the Lifelong Animal Protection (LAP) Charity page stopped her in her tracks: “600+ days and still counting … We’re not optimistic about getting Loyal and Pascal adopted unless a miracle happens and someone who doesn’t mind them being shy pops up. Would that be you?” Loyal and Pascal had been in the shelter for 760 and 600 days, respectively. Toilet trained, friendly... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3326925/digital-age-single-post-can-change-dogs-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3326925/digital-age-single-post-can-change-dogs-life?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:15:08 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo By the time we moved out of our Hong Kong home and relocated to Canada, it was practically World War III with our neighbours, well two of them anyway. With the rest, we were friendly or actual friends with them. My neighbourly foes were two expatriate families, who hated that we let our dogs use the front rather than the back stairs, and let them run unleashed to our car parked outside. My excuse was that I didn’t even walk my dogs in our neighbourhood; I drove them to a faraway dog park. They... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3326316/hong-kong-barking-right-tree-embracing-pet-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3326316/hong-kong-barking-right-tree-embracing-pet-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 15:00:11 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The restaurant industry and pet owners have urged the government to map out clear licensing rules, especially on hygiene, as Hong Kong prepares to lift a 30-year-old ban on dogs in eateries. Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the LH Group of restaurants and a dog owner, said the licence should explicitly define even basic points to avoid conflict. He said the primary responsibility for managing dogs should lie with the owners. They should have legal responsibility for their pets’ actions, he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326271/calls-clear-licensing-rules-if-dogs-allowed-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326271/calls-clear-licensing-rules-if-dogs-allowed-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 04:48:31 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A 26-year-old Hong Kong woman has been arrested for a third time in three months on suspicion of animal cruelty after a mummified cat was found in a North Point flat, a week after the remains of a dog were discovered at the same premises. The authorities received a report at around 4.30pm on Sunday from the female landlord, 39, of the property in The Consonance building on Jupiter Street, alleging suspected mistreatment of animals by a tenant. She was alerted by building security after a fire... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325504/hong-kong-woman-arrested-twice-week-after-cat-and-dog-found-dead-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325504/hong-kong-woman-arrested-twice-week-after-cat-and-dog-found-dead-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 13:04:25 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification The 2024-25 Hong Kong racing season closed on July 16, and the new season began on Sunday. As in the previous year, there will be 88 race days in total. Betting turnover for local events in 2024-25... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324507/why-you-should-think-twice-you-bet-horse-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324507/why-you-should-think-twice-you-bet-horse-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A severely decomposed 10-metre-long (33-foot-long) whale carcass has been found in Mirs Bay, Hong Kong conservation authorities have said. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said on Friday that it had received a police report the previous day about the discovery of a carcass in Mirs Bay, a body of water off northeastern Hong Kong near the Sai Kung peninsula and bordering mainland China. It said a preliminary assessment by a veterinarian from Ocean Park’s response team found... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324573/10-metre-whale-carcass-discovered-mirs-bay-hong-kong-authorities-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324573/10-metre-whale-carcass-discovered-mirs-bay-hong-kong-authorities-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 23:30:07 +0000 Lorraine Chiang Lorraine Chiang Pet owners splurged on their furry friends as a cat expo opened in Hong Kong on Friday, spending thousands of dollars on products ranging from food to DNA tests for hereditary diseases and jewellery items made with feline hair. The three-day Hong Kong Cat Expo, which has been held annually since 2023, features more than 180 exhibitors and 380 booths at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, with some reporting brisk business. Among them was Hero DNA, which said that in the first five... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320504/purr-fect-day-hong-kong-pet-owners-cat-expo-opens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320504/purr-fect-day-hong-kong-pet-owners-cat-expo-opens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:58:12 +0000