Just wanted to bring this to people's attention in case you are interested. I have been avoiding eating meat killed on the mainland but did not know that Hong Kong slaughterhouses were so poor in terms of animal welfare too.
In anticipation of the usual tirade from certain members of this forum, yes I know that slaughterhouses can be bad the world over, that I probably shouldn't be eating meat at all if I care so much etc. etc. etc. I just want to share this information so people are aware.
New report calls for HK's animal protection laws to be updated, as published in the SPCA magazine, Issue 80 / Aug-Oct 2010. The following is an excerpt talking about a recent review of Hong Kong's animal related legislation, pertaining to slaughterhouses in particular.
"The review noted serious failures at local slaughterhouses to meet basic animal welfare standards. Slaughterhouse workers routinely hit animals with electric goads on power cords, sticks and pipes, and tie up the legs of pigs, with injuries, to force them to hobble up ramps to slaughter pens. Animals can be overcrowded, suffer from heat exhaustion and are not provided with constant access to water.
The voltage used to stun pigs is also lower than that used in other common law jurisdictions, potentially allowing for animals to still be conscious of pain when stuck and hoisted. The welfare of most animals kept on local farms and sold at wet markets is also inadequately protected."