Fur-get the long wait - quarantine of cats, dogs from Macau cut to 30 days

Eunice Lam

The quarantine period of dogs and cats brought in from Macau will be shortened drastically from next month, according to Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan.

Tse - speaking at the opening ceremony of the Animal Management and Animal Welfare Building Complex in Kai Tak yesterday - said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has reached a consensus with the Macau government on the arrangements.

From December 1, the quarantine period will be reduced to 30 days, from 120 days, provided that the pets meet the requirements for rabies vaccination and rabies antibody titer testing. Cats and dogs from Hong Kong do not need to quarantine when entering Macau.

The arrangement only covers dogs and cats. Other details will be released on Tuesday, Tse said.

Together with the easing of the 15-month waiting period for quarantine facilities, the overall waiting time will be significantly shortened, he added.

"The new measures uphold the government's principles of stringently controlling rabies while using technology to address public demands," Tse said.

"I look forward to gradually extending the new arrangements to other regions in Group III, further helping pet owners to bring their cats and dogs to Hong Kong."

According to the department's dogs and cats import policy, countries and regions are divided into three groups.

Those coming from countries or places under Groups I and II - including Australia and Japan for Group I and the United States, Canada and Europe for Group II - are "normally" or "may be" exempted from quarantine after owners apply for an import permit and their pets are fully compliant with the permit conditions.

The mainland and Macau are categorized as Group III. Upon pet owners applying for a permit, dogs and cats from Group III countries and regions are subject to a minimum of four months' quarantine at the department's animal management center, at the expense of the applicant.

The new Animal Management and Animal Welfare Building Complex provides about 270 animal-keeping facilities to receive stray animals or animals surrendered by their owners - more than double the number at the former To Kwa Wan site.

Meanwhile, more facilities will be provided to shorten the waiting time for people booking them for imported animals.

With the complex commencing operation, the AFCD will further enhance its effectiveness in protecting and promoting animal welfare, controlling local animal diseases, safeguarding public health and implementing animal management measures.

The Kowloon Animal Management Centre at the complex was commissioned in July to provide dog vaccination and licensing services to the public, while divisions responsible for animal welfare and animal disease testing will also relocate to the new building in phases.

"In addition, the AFCD will regularly organize animal-welfare talks and public-education activities at the complex," a department spokesman said.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com