Pets from Group I countries and regions, which include Britain, Australia, Ireland and Hawaii, are not subject to quarantine after they are above two months old, vaccinated and chipped.

Group II countries and places include the continental United States, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore and Guam. Pets from these places will similarly have quarantine waived if they are vaccinated and chipped at the age of five months.

Places not specified in the first two groups belong to Group III, where exported pets must undergo a mandatory 120-day quarantine, during which their owners must pay HK$90 (US$11.5) per day for dogs and HK$46 per day for cats.

2. What about other places?

In mainland China, the required quarantine time for imported pet dogs and cats lasts 30 days. Pets can be released directly if they meet the requirement for exemption from quarantine, including being from designated areas, possessing valid electronic chips and passing on-site quarantine.

In Japan, quarantine periods for imported pet dogs and cats are even shorter. But the pets are required to have implanted microchips. Pets also need to complete the first and second dose of rabies vaccination, as well as an antibody test for the disease to obtain certificates for import inspection.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, if there are no problems found with the certificates that show microchip or rabies vaccination records, the quarantine period for all imported pets from non-designated regions will last 12 hours.

In Singapore, imported dogs and cats are divided into three categories of rabies risk based on their country of origin.

Schedule I are countries and regions of exports free from rabies, according to the country’s Animal and Veterinary Service.

Schedule II are countries and regions that have controlled risk of rabies, while Schedule III contains countries and regions that have an undetermined risk of rabies. Both of these regions must require evidence of up-to-date boosters of rabies vaccination and serology tests.

A 10-day home quarantine is required for Schedule II pets imported using a personal or commercial import licence. In contrast, the post-arrival quarantine period for Schedule III pets needs to be at least 30 days.

3. Why is there a need to relax the rules?

Tse was responding to questions from lawmaker Maggie Chan Man-ki, who wanted to know how authorities would facilitate pet owners’ travel with their animals to the mainland and overseas.

“As biotechnology has developed in recent years, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is exploring the feasibility of shortening the quarantine period for cats and dogs imported from certain places with higher risk of rabies, by measures such as rabies vaccination and rabies antibody titer testing,” he said.

He said the study was in its final stage.

The current four-month requirement is the longest in the world and only shared by Guam and Hawaii, with both places offering shorter alternatives if the animal has completed a serology test for rabies antibodies.

Veterinary surgeons have blamed the city’s pet-smuggling problem on its stringent quarantine policy, and urged the government to consider alternatives to reduce illegal imports, which could endanger animals.

A Post search earlier found that mainland pet delivery companies offered same-day transport services to the city on social media platforms for as little as hundreds of Hong Kong dollars.

Customs recorded 13 cases of illegal importation of 32 cats and dogs last year. There were only two cases in 2022, which involved 200 smuggled cats and dogs.

4. How are pet owners reacting to the news?

Teacher and pet owner Tricia Ross described the possible relaxation of the quarantine rules as “good news”.

Ross said the quarantine period should be shortened to seven days to two weeks if the pets had been fully vaccinated.

“If the pets have been fully vaccinated and all their paperwork is complete, as long as they have all their shots, I think seven days to two weeks is reasonable,” she said, adding that 120 days was too long.

“There are places around the world where the quarantine period is less than a month, or even a week or two.”

Dog owner John Chow Kwok-pun said he believed that 50 to 60 days was an appropriate quarantine period.

“Even though some of the pets are fully vaccinated, they may be affected by travelling with other pets that could be carrying diseases,” he said.

Chow also said that the transport for the pets should be in good condition.

“The transport for the pets should be well-maintained with enough space. Like us, they have feelings as well and may become ill when kept in small, cramped compartments,” he said.

“Maybe if the owners can afford it, the government could allocate and provide better conditions for their pets when they are being transported and when staying at quarantine facilities.”