Spot fines for feeding wild pigeons implemented in Hong Kong.
At least one member of the Hong Kong public was fined HK$5,000 for feeding feral pigeons on Sunday, but some residents ignored a government ban on the first day of immediate penalties being dished out by authorities.
Anyone caught feeding wild pigeons will receive the on-the-spot penalty, rather than a verbal warning, following the end of a one-month grace period after the ban was imposed on August 1.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, one of the five agencies enforcing the ban, said it had issued one fixed penalty ticket as of 6pm on Sunday.It also urged the public to call the 1823 hotline to report cases of illegal wildlife feeding.
At Un Chau Estate in Cheung Sha Wan, one of the “black spots” where large gatherings of wild birds have raised environmental hygiene concerns, at least four posters or warning signs about pigeon feeding were displayed. But the deterrent effect appeared to be limited, as an old woman was seen discreetly dropping some feed onto the ground, when she was walking past there pushing a trolley. Attracted by the feed, at least three dozen birds gathered immediately and hung around for about 10 minutes. The woman denied that she had fed the pigeons and fled the scene when a reporter approached her.
Neighbourhood resident Albert Chan, a technician in his 50s, said the gathering of pigeons was disturbing. He said: -
“The faeces they leave have worsened hygiene conditions here.'“
He said he could not yet feel the impact of the ban, one month after it came into effect.
“The government needs to do more enforcement and public education, because many elderly people do not know about the new policy at all.”
Chan said he had observed that the feeders were mostly old people who would show up early in the morning. He said: -
“It appears that they think feeding wild animals will bring them blessings and good luck”
He added he would give them a heads-up about the ban when he saw the feeders next time.
Resident Tommy Wong, a 49-year-old healthcare professional, said the fine was not big enough to deter pigeon-feeding.
“It may take at least a fine of HK$10,000 to truly deter them…The pigeons still hang around this area a lot … I’ve seen at least 30 of them gathering here.”
The government gazetted amendments to the Wildlife Protection Ordinance on August 1 to extend feeding bans to cover wild pigeons and introduce a HK$5,000 fixed penalty system. The authorities said the move was to protect the birds because feeding them would alter their foraging habits, jeopardise their ability to survive on their own and increase the risk of disease and parasite transmission.
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 tenfold to HK$100,000, with the addition of a one-year prison term.
In a 2022 citywide programme to tackle hygiene black spots, the government identified 21 places where wild birds gathered, 14 of which were located in Central and Western district.
Main Source: SCMP
