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LCQ8: Contraceptive/neutering treatment for wild monkeys
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     Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Question:

     I have learnt that in February 2009, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) gave an undertaking to the Animal Welfare Advisory Group that the authorities would formally implement the "trap-neuter-return" trial programme (the trial programme) for stray dogs within this year provided that the programme had the support of the public.  On the other hand, AFCD is now implementing a similar programme for wild monkeys.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) how it assesses if the public support the implementation of the trial programme;

(b) which District Councils currently support the trial programme in principle, and whether it will implement the programme in the District Council districts concerned first; and

(c) whether it has assessed the effectiveness of the similar programme implemented for wild monkeys; if so, of the assessment outcome; and the respective numbers of wild monkeys in each of the five years before and after the implementation of the programme concerned?

Reply:

President,

(a) & (b) Local animal welfare organisations have earlier proposed to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) the introduction of a "Trap-Neuter-Return" (TNR) trial programme for stray dogs.  Apart from examining the feasibility of the programme from the technical and legal perspectives, it was also necessary to ascertain public support.  In this connection, the AFCD, in collaboration with the animal welfare organisation which has advocated this programme, consulted the 18 District Councils (DCs) on the TNR trial programme in 2007.  The outcome of the consultation showed that the DCs held differing views.  Nine of the 18 DCs (namely, the Central and Western District, Wan Chai District, North District, Yau Tsim Mong District, Eastern District, Kwun Tong District, Yuen Long District, Sai Kung District and Sha Tin District) supported in principle the implementation of the programme in their districts, while seven (namely, the Islands District, Wong Tai Sin District, Southern District, Tsuen Wan District, Kowloon City District, Kwai Tsing District and Tai Po District) expressed objection.  The Sham Shui Po District and Tuen Mun District made no indication.

     Based on the outcome of the consultation described above, the animal welfare organisations concerned have indicated that they would identify suitable sites for implementing the trial programme in the nine districts which have indicated in-principle support.  At present, the AFCD and the organisations concerned are actively examining the implementation details and the pertinent legal issues.  Upon finalising the details, the AFCD will, in collaboration with the organisations, consult the DCs concerned again.  The AFCD will also encourage the organisations to further consult local residents in the vicinity of the sites selected for the trial programme, with a view to seeking community support for a smooth implementation of the trial programme.

(c) According to the Environment Bureau, the AFCD estimated in 2004 that there were about 1 500 to 1 600 wild monkeys in Hong Kong and their population was increasing at an annual rate of 6% to 8%.  Based on a survey on local wild monkeys conducted by the AFCD in 2008, it was estimated that there were some 2 100 wild monkeys in Hong Kong.  They were mainly found in the Kam Shan, Lion Rock and Shing Mun Country Parks and the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve.

     To control the population of local wild monkeys in the long term, the AFCD has been conducting small-scale field trial programmes of catching and conducting contraceptive/neutering treatment for wild monkeys since 2002.  Results indicated that most of the female monkeys given contraceptive treatment showed no signs of pregnancy in the following few years.  Given the initial success, the AFCD extended the contraceptive/neutering programme in 2007 to cover the wild monkeys in the Kam Shan and Lion Rock Country Parks.  To date, over 860 wild monkeys have received the contraceptive/neutering treatment.  As the contraceptive/neutering treatment was carried out mostly in or after 2007, the actual growth rate of wild monkey population is yet to be ascertained.  The AFCD will continue to monitor changes in the number of wild monkey communities.

Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:00

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