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Surge in abandoned animals amid land clearance for Northern Metropolis project

Three-legged dogs and one-eyed cats are common sights at a veterinary clinic opened by an animal welfare group in the Fo Tan area of Hong…

By Samantha Johnson / July 11, 2026
Three-legged dogs and one-eyed cats are common sights at a veterinary clinic opened by an animal welfare group in the Fo Tan area of Hong Kong’s Sha Tin district, with some of these animals having been there so long that the centre has become their home.
While their injuries or illnesses vary, they share the same painful experience of being displaced by the Northern Metropolis megaproject, a government blueprint to transform 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) into an economic growth engine and a major housing hub.

Sweeping land resumption in the New Territories, driven by the megaproject, has triggered a growing animal welfare crisis, as many residents and business operators abandon their animals ahead of government clearance deadlines.

A South China Morning Post reporter observed that nearly 10 stray dogs were seen roaming in Man Kam To, an area beside the mainland Chinese border, while one of the few remaining factories in the vicinity kept five guard dogs.

Industry advocates have said the current situation is critical and urged authorities to establish permanent sites to resettle displaced animals.

Kent Luk Ka-chit, founder of the Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, said that many dogs and cats in rural areas traditionally served as guard animals or rodent control.

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