Hong Kong’s health and quarantine measures during the COVID-19 outbreak were notoriously among the strictest in the world.
Thankfully, those days are now a thing of the past, but strict quarantine rules remain in place for pet cats and dogs imported from before the health crisis.
Authorities should accelerate plans to relax regulations to combat animal smuggling, attract more talent, and encourage former residents to return.
A year after a Washington Post editorial said it was time to loosen restrictions on pet imports, following reports that quarantines for cats and dogs from certain regions could be eased, officials said the review was in the final stages.
“We will next work out the details of implementation, including discussing arrangements with relevant locations, and aim to roll out the testing regime as soon as possible,” said Xie Jinwan, director-general of the Environment and Ecology Bureau.
Currently, animals arriving from locations where rabies is not deemed to be effectively controlled must undergo a four-month import quarantine.
In mainland China, the required quarantine period for imported cats and dogs is 30 days. If they meet the requirements for quarantine exemption, such as coming from designated areas, possessing a valid electronic chip, and passing local quarantine, the animals can be released directly.
This inevitably facilitates the smuggling of animals across borders, with blatant advertisements for these illegal services now appearing on popular electronic platforms in mainland China.
It’s unclear how many cats and dogs have been brought in illegally, but authorities have seized as many as 333 animals in 24 incidents over the past three years.
Meanwhile, only a few dozen cats and dogs have entered the city through quarantine in 2022. It is not surprising that more pet owners are choosing not to subject their beloved dogs to what many consider to be an unnecessarily long isolation period.
“We believe that authorities are trying to balance health risks with animal welfare. The quarantine policy has particular implications for a city that is actively opening its doors to former residents and new talent who may be repelled by strict safety measures.”