Hong Kong’s Exotic Pet Trade

Over the last two decades, Hong Kong’s pet trade has grown and diversified, pointing toward a vast and high-value industry. ADMCF research found that, over a five-year period, four million live exotic animals were imported into Hong Kong from at least 84 countries for the pet trade. Over 700 species were identified, among which many face the threat of extinction in the wild. Nearly 800,000 animals arrived in some years and reptiles consistently made up the majority.

In May 2022, ADMCF published our report on the subject entitled “Wild, Threatened, Farmed: Hong Kong’s Invisible Pets.” It shed light on the scale and nature of Hong Kong’s exotic pet trade, identifying key areas of concern regarding impacts on biodiversity loss; animal health; animal welfare; public health; and, ultimately, areas for potential policy and regulatory enhancement.

ADMCF is continuing to work on this issue, advocating for policy changes to address the many issues and insufficiencies that persist within Hong Kong. Engagements are ongoing with Government and Legislative Council members, with a legal review underway to establish suitable pathways for achieving reforms.