Give officials more power to probe suspected animal cruelty cases: watchdog

Hong Kong’s ombudsman has urged the government to empower conservation officers to enter people’s homes to investigate suspected animal cruelty cases, describing existing procedures as “ineffective” with less than 1 per cent of reported cases resulting in prosecutions.A report released on Thursday on the Office of the Ombudsman’s latest direct investigation operation also called for strengthening penalties against illegal animal traps, describing current fines as “no deterrence” against the deadly devices.“As the authority overseeing animal management and welfare, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department [AFCD] must handle every report conscientiously, diligently and promptly, yet our investigation reveals several systemic problems in the AFCD’s approach,” Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi told a press briefing on the findings.“The investigative approach is ineffective against offenders intending to conceal evidence, and it directly undermines the effectiveness in pursuing prosecutions,” he said in an accompanying press release.Chan said the government watchdog received a record 3,000 submissions related to its investigation, reflecting “great public concern” over the topic.According to official data shared by the office, the number of reports of suspected animal cruelty cases received by the AFCD nearly doubled between 2020 and 2024, from 215 to 423.