8 out of 10 Hong Kong pet owners say quarantine rules ‘too harsh’: survey
Survey by organisation led by lawmaker Johnny Ng also finds over 90 per cent of pet owners feel waiting times for quarantine spots are too long
Long quarantine periods for pets entering Hong Kong from mainland China have deterred the city’s pet owners from travelling northbound across the border, a survey has found, prompting calls for the authorities to relax the rules.
The survey by Hong Kong Youth Synergy, an organisation chaired by lawmaker Johnny Ng Kit-chong, found 81 per cent of pet owner respondents deemed the quarantine requirement “too harsh”.
91.3 per cent of pet owners also felt the waiting time for a quarantine spot was too long.
The survey was conducted in September and involved 1,008 residents, including 686 pet owners.
“We call for more flexible pet transport policies to allow more families to bring their pets along when travelling northbound. This will not only improve Hongkongers’ quality of life, but also facilitate better communication between Hong Kong and the mainland,” said Wu Man-hin, district councillor for Central and Western districts.
Under current arrangements, pets brought to Hong Kong from mainland China must undergo 120 days of quarantine. Owners are allowed to visit their pets during the period.
