Final version of Animal Protection Law gathers support

The final version of the draft for the Animal Protection Law was debated yesterday by the First Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL). At the end of the meeting, the president of the Committee Kwan Tsui Hang said that the proposal “didn’t receive criticism from the five [animal rights] associations heard,” as cited by Radio Macau.
Representatives of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) presented the final draft of the law which, according to José Tavares, president of IACM, should not have significant changes before it returns to the AL plenary for the final vote.
The President of IACM assured debate participants that the bill will provide added powers to the government: “After the approval of this law we will be able to have access to all venues, including yards, building sites and all places to which we have had no access before.”
Antonieta Manhão, the representative of the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau (APAM) said the current draft is “acceptable.”
“The most important thing at this moment is to continue with the legislative process so that the law comes into force later this year,” she added.