Hong Kong law enforcement agencies have apprehended four asylum seekers and an undocumented immigrant in connection with an alleged unlicensed restaurant operating from a flat, reportedly serving dog and cat meat. The joint operation on Thursday involved the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the police, resulting in the confiscation of 35kg (77lbs) of suspected frozen dog and cat meat from the premises on Shanghai Street in Mong Kok.
The flat, spanning 500 sq ft on the second floor of a tenement block, was equipped with a kitchen, two bedrooms, a separate room with dining tables, and a living room with an additional dining table, according to a police source. Authorities initiated the operation following reports of individuals purportedly selling dog and cat meat on the premises.
The seized meat will undergo testing to determine its origin, while menus in Vietnamese found at the site indicate dishes containing meat from the animals. Three non-refoulement claimants, a 16-year-old boy, a 27-year-old man, and a 43-year-old woman, were arrested on charges related to serving dishes at the location. Additionally, a 50-year-old non-refoulement claimant, allegedly operating the restaurant without a license for six months, faces charges of animal cruelty and violating immigration laws.
The joint operation also led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man suspected of illegal entry into mainland China. He allegedly hid in a truck to reach mainland China and later took a boat to Hong Kong, resulting in charges of illegal immigration.
Hong Kong, not granting asylum but providing non-refoulement, ensures asylum seekers are not returned to a country where persecution or torture is a risk. The sale and slaughter of dog and cat meat are illegal in Hong Kong, with potential offenders facing imprisonment up to six months and a maximum fine of HK$5,000. Prosecution will follow if testing confirms the seized meat’s origin as dogs or cats, according to the fisheries department spokesman, who urged the public to report any suspected cases. The investigation reflects Hong Kong’s strict stance against the consumption of dog and cat meat, with previous cases leading to legal actions and penalties.
