Hong Kong's Surprising Old Rule Against Feeding Birds in Public Parks

In Hong Kong, there has long been an old regulation dating back to colonial times that prohibited feeding birds in public parks. The rule was originally enacted to help preserve the natural environment, preventing overpopulation of certain bird species and the spread of diseases. While the intention was to protect both the birds and park cleanliness, the notion of actively forbidding such a simple act as offering food to birds can sound surprisingly strict today. Locals often recount stories of park visitors being cautioned by warden officials for tossing crumbs to pigeons or sparrows. Though feeding birds is common and generally accepted in many places globally, Hong Kong's historical approach reflects a cautious attitude towards human impact on urban wildlife. This law, which may still technically exist in some form, highlights a unique intersection of nature conservation and urban regulation in the city’s history.