The great protectors
While Hong Kong’s animal welfare laws are full of holes, Caroline Chen meets the people devoting their lives to plugging the gaps
Professor Amanda Whitfort, Animal welfare legal advocate
Professor Amanda Whitfort is the legal champion of animals in Hong Kong. A criminal barrister and animal lover, she has led the way in reviewing Hong Kong’s animal laws and promoting animal welfare.
Whitfort came to Hong Kong from Australia in 1998 and, shortly after, joined the HKU Law Faculty. When the government committed to reviewing animal legislation in 2007, Whitfort applied for a public policy research grant to conduct a comprehensive survey of Hong Kong’s animal laws in comparison to international legislation. “I was already volunteering for local charities on the weekends, assisting animals,” she says. “It occurred to me that I could also bring my legal skills to the table.”
Whitfort’s study, which covers everything from the pet trade to slaughterhouses, shows that Hong Kong’s laws are outdated and standards are far behind those of our international peers. While the UK has updated its animal laws, Hong Kong has not followed suit and continues to follow the old British laws dating from 1911. Whitfort hopes that her survey will help change the “archaic laws” and that the government will adopt the study’s recommendations into new legislation.
For the most part, Whitfort’s recommendations preach basic principles and common sense. “I believe that you should treat animals in a way that respects that they are sentient,” she says.
Today, Whitfort is working with international lawyers to introduce China’s first animal protection laws. Whitfort is also intent on sharing her knowledge with her students. She teaches a course on Animal Law, an area she identifies as one of the fastest-growing fields of legal research today. “I am hopeful that my course will encourage law graduates to work towards better legislation to protect animals, both here and overseas.”
Read about the other people fighting for the welfare of Hong Kong's animals
Jane Wong, Cat caretaker
Douglas Young, Activism by design
William Tung, Grassroots animal welfare activist
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