A citizen is firmly stopped at the entrance of a restaurant with her emotional support dog; a family with a cart carrying their beloved cat is denied entry at a MTR gate. These everyday scenes reflect a significant gap in Hong Kong’s “pet-friendly” policies as an international metropolis. In 2023, a survey conducted by local animal organizations found that over 70% of pet owners believe that the restrictions on companion animals in public transport and eateries are excessively harsh and disconnected from modern urban life. As the proportion of pet-owning families continues to rise, the demand for social inclusion and the associated “pet economy” has become increasingly urgent. However, the relevant laws in Hong Kong—most notably the Food Business Regulation—seem to be stuck in another era. These outdated provisions are materially obstructing the realization of a more inclusive and friendly urban vision.

At dawn, an indescribable odor permeates the air of the Tsuen Wan abattoir—this is the collective fear released by hundreds of stressed cattle transported overnight to the end of their lives. Some of them tremble, their hooves unsteady from standing for long periods on wet metal plates. According to a report submitted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to the Legislative Council in 2022, the government had planned to submit a bill in the second half of this year to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), one important revision aimed at enhancing enforcement powers to prevent cruelty to animals and protect them from suffering (including physical and mental suffering). However, as of 2023, this commitment has yet to be fulfilled. Every year, over 1.14 million pigs, cows, and sheep meet their end in Hong Kong’s slaughterhouses. The entire process—from farming, transportation to slaughter—often described as the “farm to table” chain, remains hidden from public view, becoming the darkest and least regulated aspect of animal welfare policy. Every piece of meat on our table once belonged to a life. The growing compassion of Hong Kong society for companion animals should not stop at cats and dogs. Neglecting the welfare of economic animals is a blank space in our social conscience. The lag in reform is as much about legislative delays as it is about selective neglect. In 2023, it is time to confront this long-neglected issue. Establishing a transparent, accountable economic animal welfare system that meets international standards is not just for animals; it defines what kind of civilized society we aspire to be. The first and most important step on this path of reform is to let light shine into those closed walls. Only by seeing can change become possible; only through accountability can we end endless suffering.

A group of citizens observes wild pigeons in a park, and one person throws bread crumbs, subsequently being charged with violating feeding restrictions—this may become a common scene in the future. But does this address the root problem of wildlife disturbance? In November 2023, the Hong Kong government submitted the “2023 Wild Animal Protection (Amendment) Bill” to the Legislative Council, marking the most significant revision of related legislation in nearly a decade. The bill includes pigeons in the feeding ban and significantly increases the maximum penalty to a fine of HKD 100,000 and imprisonment for one year. However, this amendment, framed as a measure to “strengthen the management of wildlife disturbances,” fundamentally remains at the level of behavioral control and fails to address deeper issues related to “comprehensive conservation” and ecosystem health. Listing pigeons in the feeding ban and increasing penalties may temporarily quell some public discontent about disturbances, but this is far from a victory for wildlife conservation. If our legal framework remains mired in a “human-centered” control mindset, unable to elevate the habitats, welfare, and ecosystem health of animals to the core of our policies, then wildlife in Hong Kong will always be viewed as “problems” in the city rather than “living neighbors” sharing our urban space. The “2023 Wild Animal Protection (Amendment) Bill” is a starting point, but it should not be the endpoint. We urge the government, Legislative Council members, and all of society to use this opportunity to engage in profound discussions on true “protection” and how to achieve human-animal coexistence. Only in this way can we have laws equipped to face future ecological challenges.

A mixed-breed dog, found barely alive, had its neck deeply strangled by a nylon rope. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the abuser was ultimately sentenced to only 160 hours of community service. This is yet another ruling among many animal cruelty cases in Hong Kong in 2023 that has left the public outraged and helpless. According to data from the Hong Kong SPCA, reports of animal abuse surged to 441 in 2023, reaching a near-record high. In stark contrast to this dire situation is the years-long stagnation of the amendment work on the “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance” (Cap. 169), which has been stalled since public consultation began in 2019. Although the government has repeatedly stated that it is “actively preparing for legislative amendments,” a specific legislative timetable remains elusive. Meanwhile, the success rate of prosecutions in related cases handled by the courts in 2023 was low, with penalties often limited to probation, community service, or fines well below the statutory maximum. The existing maximum penalty (three years imprisonment and a fine of HKD 200,000) is effectively empty in judicial practice, with a severe lack of deterrence. This has led to a sense of impunity among animal abusers and disheartened animal lovers. The delay in amending the law is not just an issue of administrative efficiency but also a matter of value choices. The vitality of a law lies in its ability to respond to the call of the times and the conscience of society. The strong public sentiment demonstrated in the 2019 consultation has already pointed the way for reform. In 2023, the 441 reports of abuse serve as a warning bell for society. Animals cannot voice their suffering; their rights need to be defended, and their suffering must be seen. As an international metropolis that claims to value the rule of law and civilization, Hong Kong cannot tolerate a nearly ninety-year-old law continuing to govern the fate of today’s animals. Reform cannot wait any longer. Every day’s delay could mean more silent suffering. It is time to show political will, restart the stalled amendment work, and draft a protective code for animals in Hong Kong that is worthy of this era.