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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 22):
Question:
Section 56 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap 374) provides that the driver of a vehicle shall stop when a traffic accident causes damage to an animal which is not in or on that vehicle and, if required by a police officer, give particulars such as his/her name and address, or report the accident to the Police as soon as possible. However, an animal referred to in that section does not include common pets such as cats and dogs, and thus pet owners will not be informed of traffic accidents which happen to their pets which have gone missing. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective estimated numbers of traffic accidents involving pets which were not in or on any vehicle in each of the past three years, and the respective numbers of each kind of pets concerned;
(b) how the Police handle traffic accidents involving pets which are not in or on any vehicle; and
(c) whether it will consider including common pets into the meaning of "animal" in the above section; if it will, of the details of its consideration and the legislative timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply :
Madam President,
We do not have the number of traffic accidents involving pets.
The Police will take different actions according to the circumstances. For instance, they will notify the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to handle injured or abandoned animals; or notify the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to handle dead animal bodies. If there are complaints related to traffic accidents involving pets, they will carry out investigations.
Although the existing legislation does not require drivers to stop their vehicles, or report to the Police on traffic accidents involving pets, the Police or related departments and organisations do receive such reports from drivers or other members of the public. Upon receipt of such reports, they will handle the cases according to the above procedures. We do not consider it necessary to amend the relevant legislation at the present moment.
Ends/Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:20
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