Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):

     It has been reported that the smuggling of animals into Hong Kong has become an increasingly serious issue in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it has been reported that there are quite a number of messages on Mainland social media and online shopping platforms advertising the cross-boundary sale of animals, using gimmicks such as the provision of "pet consignment", "quarantine-free" and "same-day delivery" to attract customers, whether the Government has worked closely with these platforms to strengthen intelligence exchange, with a view to swiftly taking down non-compliant content, so as to combat the smuggling of animals; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) given that according to government information, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department received 377 complaints in relation to animal trading and breeding activities last year, yet there were only 26 cases of successful prosecutions for breach of licensing conditions, of the reasons for that; among these complaints, the number of cases involving animal smuggling and the number of convictions; and

(3) of the following information regarding animal smuggling cases: (i) the number of cases involving the illegal import of cats and dogs so far this year, and the number of cats and dogs involved, (ii) the average time taken from enforcement to the conclusion of court proceedings in animal smuggling cases, (iii) the number of confiscated animals that have been adopted and the relevant percentage, and (iv) the resources or funding provided by the Government to organisations responsible for offering temporary shelter for and adoption of confiscated animals?

Reply:

President,

     Illegal animal smuggling and trading activities not only endanger animal health but also pose a significant risk to public health and safety in Hong Kong. To this end, the Government adopts a multipronged strategy to combat these illegal activities through legislative regulation, inspection and enforcement, intelligence sharing as well as publicity and education. We continuously review and enhance the effectiveness of these measures to tackle the ever-changing illegal smuggling and trading methods, thereby safeguarding public and animal health.

     With regard to the importation of animals, under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139A) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), any person who imports animals without a permit is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year.

     As for animal trading, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) strictly regulates the operations of physical shops, online animal sellers and dog breeding premises under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Trading and Breeding) Regulations (Cap. 139B). It requires licence holders to comply with licence conditions and codes of practice, including the proper care of animals, the administration of vaccinations, and the provision of proof of the animals' lawful origin, to ensure the animals are in good health. Any person selling animals without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000, whilst a breach of licence or permit conditions is punishable by a maximum fine of $50,000.

     In response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hak-kan, and following consultation with the Security Bureau, my reply is as follows:

(1) To tackle illegal animal trading on online platforms, the AFCD has set up a dedicated investigation team to conduct proactive investigations, including the regular monitoring of online advertisements for the sale and breeding of animals. Upon receiving complaints or detecting suspicious cases, the dedicated team will immediately launch in-depth investigations, including deploying undercover (decoy) operations to gather evidence. At the same time, the AFCD has established a close intelligence-sharing mechanism with the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) to enhance the effectiveness of monitoring online violations and strengthen joint enforcement efforts.

     Regarding claims by certain Mainland online sellers that they can deliver animals such as cats and dogs to Hong Kong "without quarantine", we must solemnly point out that such acts constitute illegal animal smuggling, in order to set the record straight. Since last year, the AFCD has proactively requested assistance from the Mainland regulatory authorities and the heads of major Mainland social media platforms to combat such smuggling activities, and has received positive responses. Mainland regulatory authorities are actively exploring ways to strengthen supervision and enforcement against social media platforms. Meanwhile, Mainland social media platforms will strictly review suspicious accounts and remove non-compliant content at the AFCD's request.

     Furthermore, the AFCD's quarantine detection dogs carry out detection operations daily at various locations, including the Hong Kong International Airport, the Air Mail Centre and various import and export control points; the department also conducts targeted joint enforcement operations with the C&ED at the airport and major land border control points, and it continues to deepen intelligence exchange and joint operations with Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies.

(2) The AFCD has been conducting regular inspections and surprise checks on licensed animal trading and breeding premises. Where there is evidence of non-compliance, the AFCD will initiate prosecution proceedings. In 2025, the AFCD received a total of 377 complaints concerning the illegal sale and breeding of animals. One hundred and three cases were substantiated after investigation, of which 65 resulted in successful prosecutions. These included 39 cases of selling animals without a valid licence or permit, and 26 cases of breaching licence conditions. None of the aforementioned complaint cases involved illegal animal smuggling.

(3) As of the end of May 2026, the Government had successfully detected 11 cases of illegal importation of cats and dogs, involving a total of 21 animals (comprising 18 cats and three dogs). Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting investigations and gathering evidence, and will initiate prosecutions against the persons involved once sufficient evidence is secured.

     In 2025, cases involving the smuggling of animals took an average of approximately five months from the time of enforcement to the conclusion of court proceedings, a period encompassing necessary legal procedures including evidence collection and formal charges being laid by law enforcement officers, as well as court appearances and trial conclusions. Under the law, those involved may choose to transport the animals out of Hong Kong at their own expense, send the animals to a quarantine centre for quarantine, or surrender custody of them. Upon receiving animals whose custody has been surrendered, the AFCD immediately places them under quarantine, provides care and behavioural training to enhance their chances of adoption, and subsequently transfers suitable animals to the department's partner organisations for adoption arrangements. In 2025, 12 cats and dogs (comprising seven cats and five dogs) were surrendered by the persons carrying the animals. Of these, 11 (six cats and five dogs) have been transferred to the department's partner animal welfare organisations for public adoption, whilst the remaining one is still under observation by the AFCD.

     The AFCD selects animals that are docile and in good health from among those abandoned or are unclaimed, and transfers them to partner animal welfare organisations for public adoption. Through the annual subvention scheme, the AFCD provides financial support to these animal welfare organisations to implement publicity and education, provide adoption services, and undertake animal management work.

     In addition, the AFCD utilises multiple channels to step up public education and publicity to promote pet adoption, including broadcasting educational videos and Announcements in the Public Interest on various platforms; establishing a thematic website; distributing leaflets, posters and booklets; and regularly organising seminars in schools and residential estates, roving exhibitions across the 18 districts, dog training courses and pet adoption days. 

     Overall, to effectively combat illegal animal smuggling and trading, active co-operation from the public is crucial, in addition to rigorous enforcement by the Government. Members of the public must remain vigilant, particularly when purchasing pets via online platforms, and be aware that illegal or unscrupulous traders may provide misleading information about pets in order to entice people to buy animals of unknown origin or in poor health. Consumers not only suffer financial losses but often find it difficult to hold these traders legally accountable later on. Therefore, the Government strongly advocates the principle of "adopting rather than buying pets", encouraging the public to prioritise adoption through legitimate channels. If choosing to purchase a pet, members of the public should buy from licensed animal traders to avoid acquiring animals of unknown origin through unofficial channels. Furthermore, the Government will continue to make good use of diverse channels, such as social media, dedicated webpages and advertisements, to conduct public education campaigns, with a view to enhancing public awareness of the relevant legislation and associated risks, thereby safeguarding public and animal health.

Ends/Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:25

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