TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1976

PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING STRAY ANIMALS TO BE STREAMLINED

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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO AMEND THE POUNDS ORDINANCE TO TRANSFER THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HANDLING STRAY ANIMALS FROM THE

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

AT PRESENT, ALL STRAY ANIMALS OTHER THAN DOGS AND CATS ARE HANDLED BY THE POLICE.

THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE SEEK TO STREAMLINE PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF ALL STRAY ANIMALS BY BRINGING THEM UNDER THE OVERALL CONTROL OF A SINGLE AUTHORITY AND TO INCREASE PENALTIES AND FEES.

UNDER THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE, ALL STRAY DOGS AND CATS ARE ALREADY BEING HANDLED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

DURING THE 1975-76 FINANCIAL YEAR, DOG CONTROL UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT CAUGHT 10,291 STRAY DOGS. OF THESE, 11.2 PER CENT WERE CLAIMED AND RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS AND THE REST WERE DESTROYED EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER CAPTURE ON ACCOUNT OF DISEASE, OR AFTER FOUR DAYS, BEING UNCLAIMED AFTER DETENTION FOR THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD.

ANOTHER 791 UNWANTED DOGS WERE REMOVED AND DISPOSED OF AT THE REQUEST OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR ALSO MARKED THE 20TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR DURING WHICH HONG KONG REMAINED FREE FROM RABIES.

A TOTAL OF 13,528 DOGS WERE INOCULATED AND LICENSED OR RE- LICENSED AT THE DEPARTMENT'S 11 CENTRES AND TWO MOBILE TEAMS.

IRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 10 A.M. TOMORROW (NOVEMBER 10) VEHICLES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TURN LEFT FROM WESTLANDS ROAD INTO KING'S ROAD,

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE

MOTORISTS.

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