The issue was brought up by lawmaker Cheung Kwok-kwan in a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday, who challenged Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee on measures to stop Covid being spread from animals to humans.

Chan then said the Cap 599A Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation has been amended and citizens must surrender an infected article, including an animal, as ordered by a health officer. Otherwise, they commit an offense and could face a HK$10,000 fine and six-month imprisonment.

Chan added the amendments have come into effect on March 31.

The issue also came to the attention of the public after some questioned authorities on their definition of “article” after finding the phrase “including an animal” is not mentioned in the law.

Article 41 of the regulation stated that, “If a health officer has reason to believe that an article is, or may have been, infected with a specified infectious disease, the health officer may … destroy the article,” according to Hong Kong e-Legislation's website updated as of March 31.

The society appealed to the government to factor in the relationship of humans and pets when making any pet-related policies. They also urged the government to clarify the definitions and provide clear details on how the law would be enforced.

They also stressed that it is very unlikely for Covid to be transmitted from pets to owners. However, the risk of transmitting Covid from infected owners to pets is much greater, they added.

The society advised the owners to make a contingency plan and to prepare in advance the medical history of their pets, contacts of the vet they usually visit and documents of pets insurance, so that the information could be handed over to the temporary keepers any time.