Injured Baby Monkey Found Foaming in Sham Shui Po; Government Response Draws Public Ire
On.cc · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A baby monkey was found foaming at the mouth with severe injuries near a petrol station on Tai Po Road in Sham Shui Po in the early hours of Sunday, triggering widespread public criticism of the government's emergency response. Despite multiple attempts to report the incident through 999 and the 1823 government hotline, the injured animal received no immediate assistance, with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) only arriving around 3 AM to find the monkey had fled up a tree. The delay of more than 90 minutes from the initial report has ignited debate about official attitudes toward animal welfare.
Key Points
- A baby monkey was discovered foaming at the mouth on a temporary steel ladder near a slope adjacent to a petrol station at 338 Tai Po Road, Sham Shui Po, at approximately 1:15 AM on Sunday
- A citizen called 999 to report the distressed animal but was refused assistance and directed to call the 1823 government hotline, which went unanswered
- The caller subsequently contacted the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at 1:55 AM; staff said they needed to consult colleagues before confirming whether they could dispatch personnel
- The SPCA, reached at around 2 AM, stated they were handling a dog injury case and could only proceed afterward; staff arrived on scene around 3 AM
- By the time SPCA personnel reached the location, the monkey had climbed a tree in fright and vanished from view
- The animal's buttocks were reportedly severely lacerated, bleeding, and exposing bone, suggesting possible attack by another animal
- From the initial report at 1:15 AM to personnel arriving at approximately 2:55 AM, more than 90 minutes elapsed, prompting public condemnation of official indifference to animal life
Why It Matters
The incident exposes potential gaps in Hong Kong's animal emergency response mechanism, particularly the apparent disconnect between 999 dispatch protocols and the 1823 hotline for non-crime animal welfare calls. As wild monkey sightings are relatively common in Hong Kong's hillside districts, the public's confidence in authorities' willingness and ability to respond to animal distress cases has been dented, with critics questioning whether government departments are adequately staffed during late-night hours to handle such emergencies .
The incident exposes potential gaps in Hong Kong's animal emergency response mechanism, particularly the apparent disconnect between 999 dispatch protocols and the 1823 hotline for non-crime animal welfare calls. As wild monkey sightings are relatively common in Hong Kong's hillside districts, the public's confidence in authorities' willingness and ability to respond to animal distress cases has been dented, with critics questioning whether government departments are adequately staffed during late-night hours to handle such emergencies .