The Ombudsman will investigate the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s (AFCD) dog licencing procedures following a public complaint.
The Ombudsman Jack Chan said in a press release on Friday that the watchdog will examine the AFCD’s application and renewals procedures “to identify any areas for improvement.”
The probe stemmed from an incident whereby a complainant took his microchipped dogs to an AFCD animal management centre to apply for their first dog licences. However, they were told to return with proof of the legal origin of their dogs, such as a receipt from a licenced animal trader or the dog’s vaccination record.
The complainant alleged that the AFCD was unable to reasonably explain the rationale for the new requirement, adding that there was also a lack of information about the new rule on its website, according to the press release.
Under the Rabies Regulations, all dogs in Hong Kong aged five months or above must be licenced, microchipped, and vaccinated against rabies. The AFCD’s animal management centres provide these services.
Chan said: “It is crucial for the AFCD to establish reasonable procedures and requirements for dog licence applications and renewals and to provide clear information to the public so as to facilitate dog owners in licensing, vaccinating and microchipping their dogs, as well as renewing dog licences and re-vaccinating their dogs in a timely manner.”
NGO chief welcomes new rule
Kent Luk, founder of animal welfare organisation Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, told HKFP on Friday that the new regulations may help tackle the illegal trade and breeding of canines, especially pedigree dogs such as poodles, corgis, chihuahuas and Pomeranians.
“I think the AFCD had this new regulation because there has been a grey area for a long time,” he said in Cantonese. “There have been many fake volunteers out there trying to breed or sell dogs without a licence. They often lie about the source of the dogs, saying that they ‘rescued’ those dogs from a car accident – or whatever – then pretending to be calling for ‘adoption’. After you get the dog, they will charge you several thousand dollars as a so-called ‘vaccination fee.'”
Luk agreed that the AFCD should be more clear about the regulations and notify the public in advance if any changes are made.
He also acknowledged the AFCD for recent improvements: “[B]ack then, it would have took the dog owners four months to get a licence, now you only have to wait around one month.”
The AFCD said it welcomed written submissions from the public by November 17, 2025.
