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Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 5):
Question:
Quite a number of members of the public have relayed to me that the number of pet keepers in Hong Kong is increasing, but the public space for use by pets and their owners together, including parks for pets, is inadequate, and the Government should provide more pet parks. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the current number and location of pet parks in Hong Kong;
(b) whether the Government has regularly conducted surveys in the past three years on users' views on pet parks, and reviewed the facilities available in the pet parks as well as made improvements accordingly;
(c) of the criteria adopted by the Government for determining the location and size of pet parks;
(d) whether presently it has any plan to provide new pet parks; if so, of the location of these parks; and
(e) whether it will consider opening some parts of the parks which presently do not admit pets for use by pets and their owners, provided that this will not affect other members of the public and environmental hygiene?
Reply:
President:
(a) At present, there are ten parks under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) throughout the territory which allow members of the public to bring their dogs in. These venues include:
(1) Victoria Peak Garden in Central and Western District;
(2) Kowloon Tsai Park in Kowloon City District;
(3) Yau Tsim Mong Pet Garden in Ferry Street, Yau Tsim Mong District;
(4) Po Wing Road Sitting-out Area in North District
(5) Cheung Wan Street Rest Garden in Kwai Tsing District;
(6) Kwai Chung Castle Peak Road Sitting-out Area in Kwai Tsing DistrictˇF
(7) Jockey Club Hing Shing Road Playground in Kwai Tsing DistrictˇF
(8) Tsing Yu Street Garden in Kwai Tsing DistrictˇF
(9) Sham Tsz Street Playground in Tsuen Wan District; and
(10) Sai Sha Road Temporary Pet Garden in Sha Tin District.
In addition, the Civil Engineering and Development Department has built a pet garden at the Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade in response to the proposals made by the Wan Chai District Council. The garden is of a temporary nature, with the LCSD presently providing the cleansing, horticultural and security services.
(b) The LCSD will heed to the views of users on the ways to improve the facilities at the activity areas for dogs in parks. The users' proposals will be examined and if they prove to be advantageous and feasible, the LCSD will take follow-up action and make improvements accordingly. For example, a proposal from a user on improving the lighting facilities at the Kwai Chung Castle Peak Road Sitting-out Area was received by the LCSD in March this year. Improvement works were then duly carried out and completed in October this year.
(c) When considering the issues of selecting and opening leisure venues for members of the public to bring their dogs in, the LCSD will take into account factors including views from the local community and the District Councils (DCs), the possible implications for other venue users and the surrounding environment, and the availability of adequate facilities and manpower to keep the venues in good sanitation conditions, etc.
(d) The LCSD has planned to open parts of the following existing parks and leisure venues under planning for admission of dogs. These five venues are:
(1) Kwong Fuk Park in Tai Po District;
(2) the landscape area at the Drainage Services Department's Sheung Wan Stormwater Pumping Station in Central and Western District;
(3) District Open Space in Area 18, Tung Chung, Lantau in Islands District;
(4) District Open Space at the junction of Hing Wah Street West, Lai Hong Street and Tung Chau Street in Sham Shui Po District; and
(5) the leisure facilities at Area 77, Tseung Kwan O in Sai Kung District.
The first two projects are expected to be completed in 2009, while the last three projects will be completed from 2010 onwards.
(e) The LCSD has always maintained an open-minded approach to proposals on opening more leisure venues for members of the public to bring their dogs in. The LCSD will continue to select suitable areas in its existing and planned parks and leisure venues in various districts, and open these venues for admission of dogs after gaining support from the respective DCs.
Ends/Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:35
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