Give officials more power to probe suspected animal cruelty cases: watchdog

Hong Kong’s ombudsman has urged the government to empower conservation officers to enter people’s homes to investigate suspected animal cruelty cases, describing existing procedures as “ineffective” with less than 1 per cent of reported cases resulting in prosecutions. A report released on Thursday on the Office of the Ombudsman’s latest direct investigation operation also called for strengthening penalties against illegal animal traps, describing current fines as “no deterrence” against the...