Hong Kong’s legislature has passed a bill that will raise the maximum penalty for feeding wild animals to a HK$100,000 fine and imprisonment for one year and expanded the ban to cover feral pigeons. The new law will take effect on August 1.

Pigeons in Hong Kong. File photo: GovHK.
Pigeons in Hong Kong. File photo: GovHK.

The new penalty would better reflect the adverse impact and serious consequences of illegal feeding on wildlife, ecology and the public, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told lawmakers on Wednesday, when the Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Bill 2023 was tabled for approval.

Under the newly passed bill, the city’s ban on feeding wild animals will be expanded to cover feral pigeons.  Anyone convicted of feeding wild animals illegally could face up to a year behind bars and a fine 10 times higher than the existing HK$10,000 penalty.

The amendment also authorises more government officials to enforce the ban.

“The prohibition on feeding pigeons and the increase in penalties for the offence of illegal feeding are aimed at strengthening the protection of wildlife, as well as mitigating the public nuisance and environmental hygiene issues caused by human feeding activities,” Tse said.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan meets the press on January 26, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

During the legislative debate on Wednesday, some lawmakers questioned whether the government could enforce the feeding ban. Tse said the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department would discuss enforcement with personnel from other departments.

Tse added the department would also consider installing surveillance cameras in illegal feeding black spots. “The government will focus on public education and awareness campaigns, while complementing these efforts with enforcement actions,” the minister said.

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Ho Long Sze Kelly is a Hong Kong-based journalist covering politics, criminal justice, human rights, social welfare and education. As a Senior Reporter at Hong Kong Free Press, she has covered the aftermath of the 2019 extradition bill protests and the Covid-19 pandemic extensively, as well as documented the transformation of her home city under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Kelly has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong, with a second major in Politics and Public Administration. Prior to joining HKFP in 2020, she was on the frontlines covering the 2019 citywide unrest for South China Morning Post’s Young Post. She also covered sports and youth-related issues.