Police have arrested a 42-year-old man after a video went viral showing a cat being struck by a black seven-seater car and then collapsing on a roadside in Hong Kong.

According to the force on Monday, the cat was hit on a path off Lam Tai East Road in Yuen Long shortly after 3pm on Thursday last week.

The ginger cat’s owner, 64, found her pet dead outside a house and checked security camera footage before reporting the incident to police later that day, a force insider said.

A video posted online shows the seven-seater vehicle travelling behind the cat which is in the middle of the path. The car then runs over the animal from behind.

In the clip, the cat goes underneath the car and is then seen running a very short distance behind the vehicle before collapsing at the roadside.

Shortly after lunchtime on Monday, the alleged hit-and-run driver went to Yuen Long police station and surrendered himself, according to the source.

As of Monday afternoon, the man was still being held for questioning and had not been charged. Officers from the New Territories North traffic unit are investigating the case.

Officers from the New Territories North traffic unit are investigating the case.

A spokeswoman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reminded the public that the Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 came into effect on November 7 last year.

Drivers are now required to stop their vehicles if they hit a cat or dog. Previously, the definition of “animal” in an accident only covered horses, cattle, asses, mules, sheep, pigs or goats. The spokeswoman commented: -

“The purpose of [this amendment] is to provide timely medical treatment to injured cats and dogs in an accident and safeguard animal welfare.”

The maximum penalty for failing to stop in an accident is 12 months in jail and a HK$10,000 (US$1,275) fine. Failing to provide particulars and report to police as soon as possible within 12 hours is punishable by up to six months in jail and a HK$25,000 fine.

HKALPO reacts

Sadly instances such as the above are not rare in Hong Kong, but continue to happen on almost a daily basis. This is why it remains incredibly important to speak out when you see such acts of cruelty and injustice committed against animals. Our animals here in Hong Kong do not have a voice, so we as citizens must be their voice.

A secondary to this is the enforcement of present laws. There is no utility to having laws that set out penalties for committing offences against animals if there is no enforcement by the Hong Kong Police. Animal related cases should be seen as important as other cases, and the same level of investigation and effort must be employed. Moreover, cases involving animals generally are more difficult in terms of investigations and obtaining sufficient evidence for their to be a successful prosecution - this cannot and should not be a reason why there is less of an imperative to enforce current laws.

If the Police find they need more time to investigate and obtain evidence in animal cruelty cases, this would be a very clear reason why animal cruelty cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, Cap 169 should include indictable offences - so that there isn’t a 6 month deadline to bring a formal charge.

Main Source: SCMP