A pond cleaning operation at King Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O turned deadly on Sunday when over 100 fish perished, prompting a police investigation for animal cruelty.
Cleaning workers relocated more than a hundred fish from the pond outside King Min House into three boxes and a small temporary pond. However, a suspected air pump failure allegedly deprived the fish of sufficient oxygen throughout the day, leading to mass casualties.
A concerned citizen discovered the scene around 7pm and alerted police and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). According to reports, 115 fish were confirmed dead by early Monday, with 81 survivors in weak condition, many of them koi. The founder of a turtle rescue group also attended the scene, noting four turtles were present and unharmed.
Animal welfare groups criticized the handling as lacking basic animal care knowledge, questioning whether it constituted negligence or improper treatment.
Police confirmed they received a report at 8.01pm on Sunday. After initial inquiries, the case has been reclassified from "police assistance sought" to "cruelty to animals" and taken over by the Tseung Kwan O district Criminal Investigation Team. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
