On September 27, a court in Hong Kong sentenced three illegal immigrants from Vietnam to more than 17 months in prison for operating an unlicensed restaurant and selling dog and cat meat to Vietnamese people. here. This information was given by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
According to the article, the trial took place at West Kowloon Court, where the defense lawyer for the three Vietnamese people argued that his clients did not know that selling and eating dog and cat meat is illegal in Hong Kong. The reason given is that they come from Vietnam, a country where the consumption of dog and cat meat is not banned.
Previously, in early September, Mr. Tran Quang Tan, 51 years old, the owner of a Vietnamese restaurant, admitted to doing business without a license. Mr. Tan hired his wife, Ms. Le Thi Oanh, 44 years old, and son-in-law Nguyen Manh Dat, 26 years old, to work at the restaurant located in an apartment in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Both Ms. Oanh and Mr. Dat also admitted to working illegally in this city. All three defendants pleaded guilty to charges related to selling dog meat and using dog and cat meat as food.
Judge Gary Chu Man-hon emphasized during the trial that the act of selling dog and cat meat not only violates the law but also aggravates illegal labor practices. Immigrants like the three defendants, although they have the right not to be deported from Hong Kong, do not have the right to work here.
When conducting a raid on the apartment where the dog and cat meat trade took place, the authorities confiscated 35 kg of dog and cat meat. This amount of meat is suspected to have been smuggled into Hong Kong by waterway.
Notably, Hong Kong law has banned the slaughter and sale of dog and cat meat since 1950. Those who violate this regulation can face up to 6 months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. Hong Kong. Similarly, in mainland China, this behavior has also been banned since May 2020.
In contrast, in Vietnam, consuming dog and cat meat is still not considered illegal. However, according to VietNamNet, many young Vietnamese people have begun to have a different view and hope that consuming meat from these animals does not negatively affect the country’s image in the international arena.
Legally, illegal immigrants in Hong Kong can request protection from the Immigration Department to avoid being deported to a country where they are at risk of persecution or torture. However, under the Migration Order, they are prohibited from engaging in any business or employment, with or without remuneration. Violation of this regulation can result in a fine of up to HK$50,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 3 years.
This incident not only raises issues related to violations of labor and business laws in Hong Kong but also reflects differences in food consumption culture between countries.