The Government proposed one-year imprisonment for maltreating animal after taken into account the existing penalty for criminal offences.

The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, spoke to reporters after a detail discussion over the penalty and legal interest for the bill of Animal Protection Law with members of the Legislative Assembly on 20 July.

She said the penalty had adequate deterrence to prevent people from acting cruel to animals; the Government’s dedication to protect animal had not changed: the bill became more comprehensive by including all vertebrates except human.

The initiative of the bill was to show the value of protecting animal and to improve the civil awareness by legislation.

The Government has met with representatives of animal groups previously to hear their views on the bill and to state the Government’s position in protecting animal and consideration of penalty.