A 27-year-old woman has died after a suspected dog attack in Yuen Long, prompting the government to review stray-dog management and measures to reduce the risk to residents.
The woman was reportedly cycling home early on 20 September when she was chased by several dogs. She was later found seriously injured beside her bicycle and taken to hospital for emergency treatment. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said an initial assessment identified an animal as the main cause of death.
Police CCTV showed three dogs chasing the woman but did not capture the suspected attack itself. She had multiple animal-bite and scratch injuries, including lacerations to her head, face and neck. Police and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department searched the area that night, captured three mixed-breed dogs and continued looking for animals that might have been involved.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said patrols and enforcement would be strengthened. Officials will review stray-dog management, the Dangerous Dogs Regulation, penalties and the responsibility of dog owners to keep their animals under control. Tse said the source of the dogs was still being investigated, but considered it unlikely that they had been displaced by Northern Metropolis development or came from a shelter cleared for that project.
The role of additional CCTV is also being debated. Tang said the area's crime rate was not particularly high, so installing cameras would raise questions of proportionality. He added that cameras might deter a human offender, but would not stop a dog from attacking.
The case followed the reported death of a 33-year-old pet-hotel operator after a dog attack in Ta Kwu Ling on 20 August. The three captured dogs remain under investigation as authorities continue searching for animals linked to the Yuen Long incident and examine the proposed changes to dog control.