Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

"AFCD" redirects here. For the English football team, see A.F.C. Dunstable.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

漁農自然護理署
Agency overview
Headquarters	5/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon
Employees	1,830 [2]
Annual budget	HK$897.5m (2008-09) [3]
Agency executives	Leung Siu-fai, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation So Ping-man, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Parent agency	Environment and Ecology Bureau
Website	www.afcd.gov.hk

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Traditional Chinese	漁農自然護理署
Simplified Chinese	渔农自然护理署
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yú Nóng Zìrán Hùlǐ Shǔ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping jyu4 nung4 zi6 jin4 wu6 lei5 cyu5
Agriculture and Fisheries Department
Traditional Chinese	漁農署
Simplified Chinese	渔农署
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yú Nóng Shǔ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping jyu4 nung4 cyu5

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (Chinese: 漁農自然護理署; formerly the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (漁農署) before 2000, of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for agriculture and fisheries in Hong Kong, conservation projects and issues, and managing the country parks and special areas.

It currently reports to the Environment and Ecology Bureau, though previously it was under the Secretary for Food and Health from 2007 to 2022, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food and Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, and before 2000, the Secretary for Economic Services. The department is also responsible for issuing special, transshipment and pet import permits for pet animals, plants to be transshipped through or imported into Hong Kong.^[1]

History

The name and remit of the department was previously:

• 1946-1950 - Agriculture Department
• 1950-1960 - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry
• 1960-1964 - Agriculture and Forestry Department
• 1964-1973 - Agriculture and Fisheries Department^[2]

Director

The department is headed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (titled Director of Agriculture and Fisheries before 2000). The current director is Dr Leung Siu-fai.

List of directors

• Jack Cater (1964-1965)
• Edward Hewitt Nichols (Apr 1966 to Jan 1980)^[3][4]
• Dr John Morrison Riddell-Swan (Mar 1980 to 1985 or later)^[5][6]
• Lessie Wei (1997 to 2002)
• Alan Wong Chi-kong (17 Aug 2009 - 25 July 2015)^[7][8]
• Dr Leung Siu-fai (July 2015 to present)^[9]

History

In January 2022, the AFCD banned the importation of hamsters after some were infected with COVID-19; in January 2023, the AFCD lifted the ban, but required that imported hamsters test negative for the virus.^[10]

See also

• Agriculture and aquaculture in Hong Kong
• Fish Marketing Organisation
• Hong Kong Herbarium

References

1. afcd.gov.hk - Import of Dogs and Cats
2. Hong Kong. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. Annual departmental report, HKUL Digital Repository
3. Director of Agriculture and Fisheries to Retire, p12, HKGIS Daily Information Bulletin, 6 July 1979
4. [1]
5. John Morrison RIDDELL-SWAN, Legco Members database
6. Public health notice, Hong Kong Gazette No. 4/1985,11 Jan 1985
7. Senior appointments, Civil Service Bureau, 7 Aug 2009
8. Senior appointments, info.gov.hk, 20 July 2015
9. Biography: Dr. LEUNG Siu-fai, HKU Faculty of Social Sciences
10. AFP (5 January 2023). "Hong Kong to resume hamster imports a year after mass cull over links to Covid outbreak". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 6 January 2023.