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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Helena Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (October 16):
Question:
As cases of animals being cruelly treated have occurred time and again in recent years, various animal welfare concern groups are urging the Police to step up actions to combat such crimes. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the Hong Kong Police College will provide any training course to teach police officers the skills of investigating cases of cruel treatment of animals; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(b) whether it will make reference to the composition of the existing part-time special teams (such as the Police Negotiation Cadre, the Force Search Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, etc.) within the Police and set up an Animal Police Team comprising interested voluntary police officers; if so; of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Currently, a number of government departments and organisations are involved in handling animal cruelty cases. For the purpose of enhancing co-operation among the departments and organisations concerned, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), in conjunction with the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (SPCA), set up in 2011 a working group to examine the work on handling such cases. The Police, in collaboration with AFCD, SPCA, veterinary associations and animal concern groups, introduced the Animal Watch Scheme in 2011 to fight animal cruelty cases through a four-pronged approach covering education, publicity, intelligence gathering and investigation. The Scheme aims at strengthening Police efforts in the investigation of animal cruelty cases. By enhancing co-operation between the Police and different organisations and promoting wider public involvement, it enables more effective prevention and investigation of animal cruelty cases.
My reply to the two parts of the question is as follows:
(a) In 2011, the Police launched the Animal Watch Scheme. To strengthen its efforts in the investigation of animal cruelty cases and help front-line officers better understand the multi-agency approach adopted under the Scheme, the Police organises seminars as and when appropriate and invites AFCD and SPCA staff to share their experience, so that front-line officers are kept abreast of the prevailing trends. In the various training courses run by the Police College, officers are briefed on offences involving cruelty to animals as well as the professional knowledge and skills required for investigating such cases. The Police will also use an e-learning software to provide police officers with an additional learning platform to ensure that cases of cruelty to animals are handled in a professional, comprehensive and consistent manner.
(b) On the part of the Police, all cases of cruelty to animals are currently investigated by crime investigation teams. Members of the teams are professionally trained in crime investigation and equipped to handle such cases effectively. The crime investigation teams in various police districts have adequate manpower, experience and professional knowhow to follow up cases of cruelty to animals amongst others. Should such cases register a rising trend in a certain district, the Police will consider deploying special team to tackle the cases with a view to delivering early results through more focussed and robust investigations. These arrangements allow the Police to flexibly deploy its limited resources to meet competing demands, including effective management of animal cruelty cases under the Animal Watch Scheme.
Ends/Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:35
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