More former urban dwellers and expatriates have moved to Cheung Chau Division (CCDIV) to make their homes alongside indigenous villagers. As a result, this situation might have brought about cultural differences and disputes arise from the ways dog owners keep an eye on their pets.

 

In a bid to promote community harmony and stave off neighbourhood disputes, CCDIV has teamed with the professional mediators from Methodist Centre to play the roles of an impartial third party in handling disputes. Their tasks are to relate messages of mediation to the parties concerned so as to end hostility, avert more disputes, and foster mutual understanding among neighbours.  

 

At the same time, the professional mediators have shared with frontline officers the skills of mediating in disputes with empathy. To enrich their knowledge of animal management, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal has provided training sessions for the officers.

 

While it is helping diffuse community tension for the first time, the Methodist Centre takes the case in CCDIV as a pilot study. If the mediation scheme produces satisfactory results, it will be extended to other communities.