Law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong have apprehended four asylum seekers and an undocumented immigrant in connection with a suspected unlicensed restaurant operating out of a flat, allegedly serving dog and cat meat.
During a joint operation conducted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and police on Thursday, officers discovered 35kg (77lbs) of suspected frozen dog and cat meat at the flat located on Shanghai Street in Mong Kok.
The 500 sq ft flat, situated on the second floor of a tenement block, was equipped with a kitchen, two bedrooms, a separate dining area with two tables, and a living room with a dining table, according to a police source.
Authorities initiated the joint operation following reports of individuals purportedly selling dog and cat meat on the premises, as confirmed by a spokesman from the fisheries department.
Samples of the seized meat will undergo testing to ascertain their origin, while menus in Vietnamese found on the premises indicated dishes containing meat from these animals.
A 16-year-old boy, a 27-year-old man, and a 43-year-old woman, all non-refoulement claimants, were arrested on charges related to serving dishes at the site. Additionally, a 50-year-old non-refoulement claimant, allegedly operating the unlicensed restaurant for six months, was apprehended on suspicion of running a restaurant without a license.
All four individuals were detained on charges of animal cruelty and violating immigration laws. Furthermore, a 33-year-old man, suspected of being present at the flat to meet acquaintances, was arrested for illegal immigration after entering mainland China clandestinely.
Hong Kong does not grant asylum but offers non-refoulement protection to asylum seekers, ensuring they are not returned to a country where they face persecution or torture.
The slaughter and sale of dog and cat meat are illegal in Hong Kong, with offenders facing imprisonment of up to six months and a maximum fine of HK$5,000. Prosecution will be pursued if testing confirms the seized meat originated from dogs or cats.
In November last year, an investigation was launched into an online trader after advertisements featuring suspected dog meat surfaced online. Similarly, in April last year, a frozen meat shop operator was jailed for 10 weeks for selling feline meat falsely claimed to be from Kaiping in Guangdong province.
Commercial slaughter and sale of dog meat have been banned on the mainland since May 2020, following citywide bans on the consumption of dog and cat meat in Shenzhen and Zhuhai.
