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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 20) :

Question:

In view of the large number of wild monkeys settling in the areas of the Lion Rock, Kam Shan and Shing Mun Country Parks, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it monitors the changes in the number of monkeys and of the estimated number of monkeys currently settling in each of the above areas;

(b) whether it has reviewed the impact of a large number of monkeys on the ecology of the country parks; if so, of the findings and remedial actions it will take;

(c) of the measures to prevent over-proliferation of monkeys;

(d) of the respective numbers of complaints lodged by picnickers about nuisances and attacks by monkeys in the past three years; and whether it has assessed the severity of the problem of monkeys causing nuisances to picnickers; if it has, of the details of the assessment;

(e) of the diseases that can be transmitted to human beings through contacts with monkeys; and

(f) whether the health conditions of monkeys are monitored on a regular basis; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) monitors changes in the number of wild monkeys in country parks including the Lion Rock, Kam Shing and Shing Mun Country Parks. According to its estimates, there are currently about 500, 700 and 130 wild monkeys in the three country parks respectively.

(b) AFCD's assessment is that the wild monkeys have not caused any significant adverse impact on the ecology of the country parks. The woodland habitats within the three country parks are large enough to support the fauna in the areas including the wild monkey population. The only damage the wild monkeys are causing is to some of the trees in an area within the Kam Shan Country Park where a relatively larger group of monkeys frequent. The Department's country park tree planting programme more than compensate for the trees so damaged.

(c) The fundamental cause of the rapid growth of the wild monkey population in the three country parks is human feeding. To deal with this problem, AFCD has since 1999 prohibited the feeding of wild monkeys in the three country parks. They have issued about 16,000 warnings and advice, and prosecuted 11 persons for illegal feeding so far.

Moreover, AFCD is studying the feasibility of introducing contraception as a long-term and humane measure to contain the growth of the wild monkey population. The Department has just completed a trial programme of sterilising some 30 monkeys, and is now studying the effects on the monkeys' reproductive behaviour including the impact on their family groups.

(d) According to AFCD's record, the number of complaints received from visitors about monkey nuisances and attacks in the three country parks in 2000, 2001 and 2002 (up to October) were 52, 12 and 71 respectively. The majority of the cases involved monkeys displaying threatening gestures or attempting to snatch food from visitors, and did not cause any injury to the visitors. The figures were much lower when compared with the period between 1996 and 1998 when over 120 complaints were filed each year. We believe that the improvement is to a certain extent due to the effectiveness of the feeding ban introduced since 1999. AFCD will continue to strictly enforce the feeding ban and explore other suitable measures to contain the growth of the wild monkey population.

(e) In theory, a number of diseases such as Herpes B, rabies, tuberculosis and parasitic diseases could be transmitted to human beings through contacts with monkeys. Until now, there are no known cases of transmission of diseases from wild monkeys to human beings in Hong Kong.

(f) AFCD monitors the health conditions of the wild monkeys in country parks and carries out disease surveillance as necessary. So far there have been no sign of infectious disease among them. Checks that have been conducted on the wild monkeys have not revealed any evidence of infection with Herpes B, a virus present in wild monkey populations in other places that can cause serious disease in human beings. However, to ensure safety, members of the public wounded by monkeys are advised to seek medical attention.

End/Wednesday, November 20, 2002

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