A heroic animal rights activist living in Mui Wo has been criticised for freeing captive pet birds from cages while their owner wasn't looking.

Mr Robinson, in his late 50s said that he was sitting in the park in Olympic when he spotted the birds in cages hung up on a tree crying in agony.

"They didn't look healthy! They were in agony, flapping their wings and trying to get out. I didn't want them to suffer any more so I let them out."

The police later charged him and he was ordered to pay $3000 HKD in compensation to the birds' owner.