customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Lo Hoi-ying

Hongkongers caught feeding feral pigeons will no longer receive verbal warnings for breaking the law and will instead face on-the-spot fines of HK$5,000 (US$641) from Sunday.
Authorities said on Saturday that offenders would face immediate enforcement measures after the end of a one-month grace period.
“Starting from [Sunday], enforcement officers will take immediate enforcement action without prior verbal warnings upon discovering any person who is found to be illegally feeding wild animals or feral pigeons,” a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.
The government gazetted amendments to the Wildlife Protection Ordinance on August 1 to extend the current feeding bans to cover wild pigeons and introduce a HK$5,000 fixed penalty system.
Authorities will consider prosecutions, instead of the fine, in serious cases such as those involving repeated violations.
The maximum penalty for breaches has also been increased by 10 times to HK$100,000, with the addition of a one-year prison term.
Enforcement will be conducted by officers from the police force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Housing Department.
Officers can require offenders to provide personal details, such as their name, address, contact number and proof of identity for inspection.
Authorities said public education had also been carried out through roving exhibitions, street booths, public talks and thematic websites to explain the impact of human feeding and to understand the reasons behind banning the feeding of wild pigeons.

The government has said that feeding the feral birds threatens their survival because it alters their foraging habits.
It also jeopardises their ability to survive on their own and increases the risk of disease and parasite transmission.
Authorities have also pointed to the negative impact of food and bird faeces in public places.
The city has 17 “black spots” where large gatherings of wild birds have raised environmental hygiene concerns, with Sham Shui Po being the most severe.


Hong Kong must sustainably balance ecological conservation and development

Hong Kong’s first waste water recycling plant can save HK$48 million a year, government says

Hong Kong firms need to prepare for nature, biodiversity-related disclosures, experts say

Why the delay in adding trees to Hong Kong’s ‘old and valuable’ register?

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hongkongers caught feeding feral pigeons face on-the-spot HK$5,000 fine from Sunday

The government has said that feeding the feral birds threatens their survival because it alters their foraging habits. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong has 17 “black spots” where large gatherings of wild birds have raised environmental hygiene concerns. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong’s pigeon population drops in hotspots across city amid wildlife feeding ban

A banner is displayed warning people against feeding pigeons in Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

There are 17 “black spots” in Hong Kong where large gatherings of wild birds have raised environmental hygiene concerns. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong plans to ban feeding feral pigeons in August. The Post breaks down what you need to know about the legal change

Hong Kong will ban pigeon feeding on August 1. Photo: Jelly Tse

Pigeons that are domesticated or granted with a special permit will be exempted from the ban. Photo: Edmond So

Offenders will be subject to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and a year in jail. Photo: Elson Li

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Authorities will no longer give verbal warnings before handing out fines after grace period ends following legal amendment


Authorities will no longer give verbal warnings before handing out fines after grace period ends following legal amendment.


Animals

Crime in Hong Kong