Hong Kong's Kwun Tong Court yesterday handed a 10-week jail sentence to the owner of a shop, where samples containing feline DNA were seized by officials, for selling cat meat.
Wu Siyuan, 40, earlier admitted to selling restricted food, and using or permitting the use of cat flesh as food at a shop on Reclamation Street in Yau Ma Tei.
In sentencing, deputy magistrate Charles Kwok said it was disturbing that the defendant could only produce a receipt for chicken meat, which raised doubts of the origin of his food products.
The deputy magistrate also said he believed the 1.255 kilogrammes of cat meat was brought into Hong Kong illegally and belonged to more than one feline.
Kwok said while similar cases are rare in Hong Kong, the court needed to send a message about the seriousness of the consumption and sale of pet meat.
In a statement welcoming the judgment, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said the prison sentence will have a "significant deterrent effect".
"The authorities do not tolerate using flesh of cat or dog as food and shall duly follow up any suspected illegality. It is an offence to eat, sell or possess dog or cat flesh for food. The AFCD will certainly take stringent enforcement action should such incidents be discovered."
The selling of dog and cat meat for human consumption is illegal in Hong Kong and Macau.
– RTHK, MPD
