Tran Quang Tan, 51, his wife Le Thi Oanh, 44, and their son-in-law Nguyen Manh Dat, 26, were found guilty of working at a restaurant in Mong Kok earlier this year, according to the SCMP. Tan owned the establishment, while Oanh and Dat worked there illegally.
The trio, illegal immigrants in Hong Kong, admitted to selling dog and cat meat at the restaurant during their trial on Friday.
Authorities raided the premises in February following a tip-off from an undercover officer. They discovered several Vietnamese nationals at the location, which contained a kitchen, cooking utensils, Vietnamese-language menus for dog and cat meat dishes, and business records, as reported by Dimsum Daily.
During the search, 34 bags of animal flesh, believed to have been smuggled into Hong Kong by boat, were found. Prosecutors stated that the bags contained dog and cat meat.
Tan and Oanh were found to have either managed bills or prepared food in the kitchen, according to court testimonies. Their son, Tran Nhat Minh, was also accused of assisting but pleaded not guilty.
The sale and slaughter of dog and cat meat are prohibited in Hong Kong, with violators facing up to six months in prison.
Additionally, illegal immigrants in Hong Kong are barred from any form of employment or starting businesses, offenses that can result in prison sentences of up to three years.
While Vietnam does not ban the consumption of dog meat, the government is taking steps to curb the practice. Hoi An, a popular tourist town in central Vietnam, began phasing out dog and cat meat in 2021 to eliminate rabies and create a tourist-friendly environment.
In Hanoi, several dog and cat meat establishments have been shutting down as the capital moves away from this practice. The Hanoi Department of Animal Health reported in 2018 that the number of dog and cat meat shops in Hanoi had dropped from 1,100 to around 800.
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Source: Vietnam Insider