Reducing Hong Kong’s pet quarantine period ‘might curb cross-border smuggling’

Lawmaker and academic say reducing city’s 120-day quarantine for dogs and cats might reduce demand for pet smuggling services across border

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A lawmaker has also suggested reducing the quarantine period might be “one less hurdle” for those hoping to work in Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:00pm, 10 Jun 2024Updated: 2:59pm, 10 Jun 2024

A shorter quarantine period for pet dogs and cats coming into Hong Kong may reduce demand for smuggling across the border, an expert and lawmaker have said, respectively calling for a reduction from four months to one or waiving the rule for vaccinated animals.

Environmental authorities earlier said they were in the final stages of a study on reducing the current 120-day quarantine period for pet dogs and cats from locations considered to be high risk for rabies, such as mainland China, Macau, Malaysia or Thailand.

Lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon described the current policy as “outdated” and said the review could ensure some pet owners faced “one less hurdle” when thinking about working in Hong Kong.

“Owners can’t afford to part with their pets for that long,” she said. “Just imagine leaving your children in quarantine for four months. Would you be OK with that?”

Kong, a lawyer, said a possible reduction would ensure a lower entry threshold that could potentially reduce demand for cross-border pet smuggling.

“The unreasonably long time and high cost are a recipe for a black market. That applies to everything,” she said.