Hong Shui Kiu stall owner arrested over cat case
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
A 44-year-old woman who ran a tin-sheet vegetable stall in Hong Shui Kiu was arrested after police said her shop cat was found in a cramped cage without adequate food, water or medical care following a fire at the stall. The cat, nicknamed “To Po Yu” (多寶魚), had reportedly developed wheezing and coughing after inhaling smoke and was later taken away for care by the SPCA.
Key Points
- The fire broke out at about 12:52am on Tuesday, 13 October, at a tin-sheet vegetable stall at 8 Hung On Lane, Hong Shui Kiu, with firefighters later concluding it was caused by an electrical short circuit and was not suspicious.
- Reports said sparks from faulty wiring ignited cardboard boxes and fruit baskets, producing heavy smoke, although no people were injured in the blaze.
- Neighbours said the stall’s cat, “To Po Yu”, was not burned but appeared unwell after inhaling smoke, showing wheezing and coughing, and was taken by concerned residents to a veterinary clinic for oxygen treatment; one report said X-rays were also arranged.
- The 44-year-old stall owner, surnamed Cheung, allegedly went to the clinic, proved ownership and insisted on taking the cat away, despite objections from residents who had paid for treatment and wanted the animal kept under veterinary observation.
- Residents later found the cat back at the stall in a narrow metal cage without sufficient food or water, and police said SPCA staff assessed that the cage was too small for movement and that no medical treatment had been provided before the woman was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals.
Why It Matters
The case has moved beyond a fire incident into a criminal animal-welfare investigation, with the Yuen Long District crime squad now handling follow-up work. For Hong Kong readers, the immediate issue is whether an animal in visible respiratory distress received proper care after an emergency and whether its confinement conditions breached cruelty laws.