Whale's Misadventure in HK Waters

A dead whale carcass was found Monday morning in Sai Kung

Fishermen spotted a whale carcass floating in the waters off Shelter Island in Sai Kung, Hong Kong, and now police and officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department are trying to assess whether the 7-metre-whale is the one that was spotted in mid-July.

It was a surprise to see a Bryde's whale in Hong Kong, with conservation groups speculating it may have lost its way. As a result tourist-boats filled with people rushed out to see the whale, which was found to have two large gashes in its back about a week ago. The wounds may have been caused by a propeller.

A Bryde's whale was spotted July 13

If the carcass is the same whale, its demise may have been caused by the injury, though people encroaching on it, would have inflicted greater stress on the animal, having so many boats only metres away from it.

The authorities and conservation groups had called for people to be at least 100 metres away from the mammal.

Even Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, currently acting Chief Executive as John Lee Ka-chiu is away, to order marine police to increase patrols in the area to keep boats away from the Bryde's whale.

At the time marine biologist Taison Chang Kai-tai, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society urged the public not to go too close to the animal to avoid causing further injuries, and that it may have lost its way.

Two gashes were on the whale's back

"With the injuries, it will face bigger difficulties in finding its way out [to its habitat]," Chang said, adding it was also facing more challenges in feeding.

The demise of the whale is a sad reminder of the ignorance of Hongkongers when it comes to wild animals. The keyword is wild.

Feeding Pigeons in HK Could be Fined HK$100K

Feeding pigeons could soon become illegal and HK$100K fine

Hong Kong seems to be becoming more legalist by the day, as residents may be fined up to HK$100,000 (US$12,750) and one year in jail for feeding wild animals, including pigeons.

It is a proposal submitted to the Legislative Council by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in a bid to stop people from feeding these animals. The proposed fine amount is 10 times what it is now. 

For comparison sake, a dog owner not picking up his or her canine's feces is HK$1,500.

Wild boars dig through human garbage for food

Needless to say animal activists and public policy experts say the move is out of proportion and question if this kind of punishment will be effective.

AFCD says residents feeding pigeons "constitute a public health issue".

"Feeding feral pigeons will inevitably attract other wild animals... to eat the food given by the feeders," a spokesman said, citing species such as spotted doves, tree sparrows, monkeys and wild boars.

But Benson Wong Wai-kwok, a retired assistant political science professor at Baptist University specialising in comparative public administration, said such a heavy penalty for a relatively light wrongdoing was a "disproportional move".

"Instead of addressing the problem, this policy may probably yield nothing but seed fear among residents," he warned.

There is a valid concern about feeding wild boars, but in the time that I had encounters with these creatures, no one fed them. 

Nevertheless, surely if this whopping fine does become law, it will be reported internationally for sure -- "Feed the pigeons in Hong Kong and get fined over US$12K!"

Is that a happy Hong Kong story?

Chan budgets extra HK$5B for national security

Or how about the fact that the Hong Kong government has budgeted an additional HK$5 billion for national security. 

During his 2021 budget speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po had allocated HK$8 billion and told reporters after it would be "enough to last for the next few years".

That amount was to to be used for "minor construction works, specialised equipment, system set-up, machinery" or other capital expenditure.

Imagine if the HK$5 billion was focused on housing homeless people, or giving men living in cages a decent place to live. What about those people in those subdivided flats? 

It's another priority Beijing has told Hong Kong to work on, or has housing these people taken a back seat?

Meanwhile those container flats at Penny's Bay are still empty and unused...

Recycling was never Hong Kong's strong suit.