Court Orders Animal Shelter to Pay HK$89,000 to Part-time Kennel Worker Bitten on Job
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A District Court has ordered Kelly Animals Shelter Company Limited (KAS) to pay approximately HK$89,000 in compensation to a part-time kennel manager who suffered severe injuries after being bitten by a dog during work duties. The applicant, WONG Po Ki, was working at KAS's animal shelter in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long, when the incident occurred on November 16, 2022. District Court Judge Leung Kwok-on ruled that despite the company's claims that WONG was merely a volunteer, the evidence demonstrated she was an employee entitled to workers' compensation .
Key Points
- Applicant WONG Po Ki suffered multiple dog bites to her face and hands while returning dogs to kennels, with her right little finger nearly severed, requiring four days of hospitalization
- WONG transitioned from volunteer to paid part-time worker in September 2022 with a negotiated daily wage of HK$800, managed through WhatsApp group "KAS x Part time 1"
- KAS argued WONG was a volunteer and that her payments were private donations from "caring volunteers," but the court found insufficient evidence supporting this claim
- Judge Leung determined WONG's work schedule and duties were assigned by KAS management, satisfying the legal test for employment status
- Beyond physical injuries, WONG was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and assessed to have permanently lost 4.5% of her earning capacity
Why It Matters
The ruling establishes an important precedent for gig economy and part-time workers in Hong Kong, confirming that organizations cannot circumvent employment law obligations simply by labeling workers as volunteers or characterizing wages as informal donations . The case also highlights the importance of clear employment documentation, as KAS failed to produce evidence of their claimed "volunteer donations" despite the court giving them opportunity to do so during proceedings that were briefly delayed due to their representative arriving 50 minutes late to a scheduled hearing .
The ruling establishes an important precedent for gig economy and part-time workers in Hong Kong, confirming that organizations cannot circumvent employment law obligations simply by labeling workers as volunteers or characterizing wages as informal donations . The case also highlights the importance of clear employment documentation, as KAS failed to produce evidence of their claimed "volunteer donations" despite the court giving them opportunity to do so during proceedings that were briefly delayed due to their representative arriving 50 minutes late to a scheduled hearing .