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Pet homeowners in Hong Kong now face fines of as much as HK$10,000 (US$1,275) and 6 months in jail in the event that they refuse to give up their animals for infectious illness management.
In a written reply to the Legislative Council, Secretary for Meals and Well being Sophia Chan revealed the federal government lately launched amendments to the Prevention and Management of Illness Regulation (Cap. 599A), which would require pet homeowners to give up an animal that’s believed to be, or might have been, contaminated with a specified infectious illness.
“The amendments additionally present for offences and penalties for non-compliance, the utmost of which is a nice of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for six months on conviction,” she stated.
The well being secretary added the amendments have come into impact on March 31, 2022.
The adjustments to the regulation come after well being authorities culled greater than 2,000 hamsters and small animals in January after a pet store employee was contaminated with the Delta variant of COVID-19.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Division additionally strongly suggested the general public to give up hamsters bought in native pet outlets round that interval for culling.
Researchers from the College of Hong Kong later stated a number of the hamsters from the pet store and a associated warehouse have been contaminated with the virus and transmitted it to folks.
However the actions precipitated a public outcry with some animal rights teams saying the hamsters might have been quarantined or remoted as an alternative. Some additionally stopped others from surrendering the hamsters and took within the hamsters themselves as an alternative.
The division later publicly condemned such actions, stressing they may pose well being dangers to the folks involved and the general public. It additionally reported the case to the police for follow-up and dealing with.
Obstructing, or aiding to impede a well being officer within the train of an influence or efficiency of a perform, can be a legal offence and offenders are liable on conviction to a nice of HK$5,000 (US$637) and to imprisonment for 2 months, famous Chan.
In her reply, the well being secretary additionally revealed that as of the top of March, a complete of 145 hamsters “got up and surrendered by homeowners to the [department] for follow-up”.
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