Letters | Hong Kong’s wild boar cull was a PR disaster, supporters and opponents can both agree
- Readers comment on the lack of clear messaging on the government’s wild boar solution, Hong Kong’s Covid-19 restrictions and border closures, and Western concerns about Peng Shuai
While I appreciate that press releases were issued explaining, justifying and defending the actions of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the public would have benefited from better and more effective communication by the government of its efforts and the new policy at the outset.
Of course, I am saying this now with hindsight. But what if spokespersons for the agriculture department, the Hong Kong police and/or relevant government departments leading the operation had come out with an unequivocal, proactive, sincere and coordinated message as part of a wider media campaign at a much earlier stage (in any event before the public outcry)?
A campaign could have clearly emphasised the following:
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Previous strenuous efforts, incurring huge expenses, to sterilise and relocate the wild boar population have not been entirely satisfactory so targeted culling is warranted to protect the public’s safety and prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases;
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The government is continually committed to conservation, as demonstrated by its work with local and international NGOs and wildlife conservation groups;
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Feeding the wild boars will lead to legal and ecological negative consequences, and tougher penalties will be imposed, including in urban areas;
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Education campaigns have been in place to promote ways to live in harmony with wildlife, which will work in tandem with the culling operation.
Without making such a clear message more widely known to the public (a one-page press release does not suffice, in my view), reading about the captured and culled pigs in the morning paper can be unpalatable, and not just for the faint-hearted.
