Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Keeping of Cattle, Sheep and Goats) Regulations
[11 November 1960] G.N.A. 133 of 1960
(Format changes—E.R. 6 of 2020)
These Regulations may be cited as the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Keeping of Cattle, Sheep and Goats) Regulations.
These regulations shall not apply—
to any cattle, sheep or goats kept by the State; (65 of 1999 s. 3)
to any cow or buffalo kept for the purpose of trade in milk and which is entered in a herd register kept pursuant to the provisions of regulation 26 of the Dairies Regulations (Cap. 139 sub. leg. D); or
in the area comprising the Districts specified as Islands District, Kwai Tsing District, North District, Sai Kung District, Sha Tin District, Tai Po District, Tsuen Wan District, Tuen Mun District and Yuen Long District in Part II of Schedule 1 to the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547). (78 of 1999 s. 7)
Save under and in accordance with a licence from the Director, no person shall keep any cattle, sheep or goats.
Upon application in such form as may be prescribed by the Director, the Director may grant to any person a licence to keep cattle, sheep or goats and may renew any such licence. (58 of 1987 s. 15)
Every such licence shall expire on 31 December.
Save as provided in paragraph (4) the fees hereinafter set out shall be payable on the grant or renewal of any such licence—
in the case of a licence to keep cattle, $20 per annum for each animal kept by the licensee;
in the case of a licence to keep sheep or goats, $36 per annum for each building in which the licensee keeps the same. (58 of 1987 s. 15)
Where any such licence is granted on or after 1 July in any year, the fee payable in respect thereof shall be one-half of the fee prescribed in paragraph (3).
Any such licence and any renewal thereof shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Director may determine, and shall not be transferable.
No person shall keep any cattle, sheep or goats in any building other than a building which has been registered with the Director in accordance with the provisions of these regulations.
Every building in which cattle, sheep or goats are kept shall be registered with the Director during the month of January in each year and every new such building shall be registered with the Director before any cattle, sheep or goats are kept therein. (58 of 1987 s. 15)
Save as provided in paragraph (3), the Director shall refuse to register any such building unless he is satisfied that—
the building is not less than 1.8 metres from any building used for purposes of habitation; (L.N. 60 of 1981)
the building is not connected in any way with any sewer;
the building is constructed of brick or stone or other material approved by the Director;
the building is adequately lighted and ventilated;
the floor of the building is—
constructed of concrete or other impervious material; and
provided with drainage channels, which are constructed of impervious material, for the purpose of draining off urine and other fluid noxious matter to a sump; and
adequate provision has been made for the supply of suitable water for the animals which are to be kept therein.
The Director may register any such building notwithstanding that he is not satisfied as to any one or more or all of the matters specified in subparagraphs (a) to (e) inclusive of paragraph (2) if a health officer is satisfied that to do so will not be to the prejudice of the public health.
In every building in which cattle are kept, every animal shall have—
not less than 3 square metres of floor space; and
not less than 10 cubic metres of air space. (L.N. 60 of 1981)
The height of any such building, at its lowest part, shall be not less than 3.6 metres. (L.N. 60 of 1981)
For the purposes of this regulation, 2 calves, being less than 12 months of age, shall be deemed to be one animal.
In every building in which sheep or goats are kept, every animal shall have—
not less than 0.7 square metre of floor space; and
not less than 2.5 cubic metres of air space. (L.N. 60 of 1981)
The height of any such building, at its lowest part, shall be not less than 1.8 metres. (L.N. 60 of 1981)
For the purposes of this regulation, 2 lambs, or 2 kids, being less than 4 months of age, shall be deemed to be one animal.
(Repealed 58 of 1987 s. 15)
Without prejudice to any other provisions of these regulations, any building in which cattle, sheep or goats are kept shall, at all times, be maintained in a clean condition.
All urine and other fluid noxious matter from any building in which cattle, sheep or goats are kept shall be drained to a sump or to such other place as the Director may, for the time being, approve. (58 of 1987 s. 15)
Every such sump shall be constructed to the satisfaction of the Director and, in particular, shall be so constructed as to prevent leakage therefrom and shall be covered with a close-fitting cover.
Every sump provided in accordance with the provisions of regulation 11 shall be emptied, and all manure shall be removed from any building in which cattle, sheep or goats are kept, not less than once in every 24 hours.
Save with the permission in writing of the Director, no licensee shall cause or permit any cattle, sheep or goats in his possession to be turned out to graze on any land, other than land occupied by him and which is enclosed by fences. (58 of 1987 s. 15)
Where the Director gives his permission under the provisions of paragraph (1), the same may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Director thinks fit.
A building which has been registered under the provisions of regulation 6 as a building in which cattle, sheep or goats, as the case may be, are kept shall not be used for any purpose other than the housing thereof.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of regulation 3 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1.
Any licensee who—
contravenes any of the provisions of regulation 5, 12, 13(1) or 14; or
contravenes any terms or conditions imposed by the Director under the provisions of regulation 4(5) or 13(2),
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1.
In the event of a contravention of any of the provisions of regulation 7 or 8, the licensee shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1. (58 of 1987 s. 15)
Where any offence under these regulations is a continuing offence, any person who is guilty of such offence shall, in addition to the penalty provided therefor under the provisions of paragraph (1), (2) or (3), as the case may be, be liable to a fine of $50 for each day during which it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the offence has continued.