Animal welfare in Hong Kong: veteran campaigner hopes ‘duty of care’ law protecting pets will be fitting legacy after nearly 40 years in the city

Jacqui Green is a household name on Lantau Island, and among the city’s animal welfare community. Now she’s heading back to Britain and hopes the government is finally listening to calls for a law protecting pets

Reading Time:4 minutes

Jacqui Green at PALS in Mui Wo with some of the stray animals she has rescued. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 11:18am, 6 Oct 2018Updated: 10:07am, 7 Oct 2018

Injured stray dogs, abandoned kittens, and a cow in distress, are just some of the animal emergencies Jacqui Green has handled over the past 30 years on Lantau Island.

The veteran campaigner’s willingness to jump into her car and race to the scene of a case has made her a household name among animal lovers on the island, and across Hong Kong’s animal welfare community.

The 68-year-old co-founded Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), a society that has been raising awareness for animals on the outlying island since the 1980s, spearheaded rehoming efforts for unwanted dogs and cats, and has pushed for desexing campaigns to keep feral populations down.

Now, after nearly 40 years in Hong Kong, and three decades defending animal welfare on Lantau, Green is returning to Britain, but she hopes to leave a legacy behind.

Jacqui Green prepares to head out on another rescue mission in one of PALS’ well-used vehicles, all of which have been donated by Lantau residents. Photo: Handout

In recent years, PALS has handled more than 1,000 animals each year, with a maximum of 10 volunteers at any one time.