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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (May 7) :

Question:

It has been reported that cases of wild monkeys causing nuisance to the public in Shatin have increased recently, and some of the monkeys even blatantly snatch food from people's hands and intrude into the homes of local residents, thereby posing a safety hazard to the community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of wild monkeys in Shatin; whether there is a trend in the increase in the number of these monkeys over the past three years; and of the number of complaints about these monkeys received by the authorities during the same period;

(b) whether it plans to contain the number of wild monkeys, such as by performing sterilizations on them; if it has, of the details of such plans; if not, the reasons for that; and

(c) whether it has measures to regularly monitor the health conditions of the wild monkeys, with a view to preventing them from transmitting diseases to the public?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD)'s estimation, there are currently about 30 wild monkeys in Sha Tin inhabiting in the woodlands close to the residential areas at Tai Wai. This group has been increasing at the same natural growth rate of 5-7% a year as the other wild monkey populations in Hong Kong. In the past three years, AFCD received 114 reports/ complaints (27 in 2000, 29 in 2001 and 58 in 2002) about sightings of monkeys or nuisances caused by them in the residential areas near the woodlands in Tai Wai.

(b) To contain the growth of wild monkeys in Hong Kong, AFCD has been conducting a contraception trial on the animals since March 2002. So far, 20 female monkeys and 17 male monkeys in Kam Shan Country Park have been treated with contraceptive injections. To assess the effectiveness and impact of the contraceptive measure, AFCD is monitoring these monkeys and their family groups to see whether there are changes in their fertility status, social structure and behavioural patterns. Pending the results of the trial, AFCD will examine the feasibility of implementing a large-scale contraceptive programme to cover all wild monkey populations in Hong Kong.

(c) AFCD has been monitoring the health conditions of wild monkeys in country parks and carrying out disease surveillance as necessary. So far there has been no sign of infectious disease among the wild monkey populations in Hong Kong.

End/Wednesday, May 7, 2003

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