SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1977
ANTI-RABIES CAMPAIGN ENDS IN SUCCESS
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THE RABIES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN MOUNTED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS ENDED SUCCESSFULLY WITH MORE THAN 24,000 DOGS INOCULATED AGAINST THE DISEASE DURING THE SEVEN-MONTH CAMPAIGN PERIOD AS COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL FIGURES OF 13,000,
IN ADDITION, 25,365 DOG LICENCES WERE ISSUED AND 3,327 UNWANTED DOGS DESTROYED DURING THE PERIOD,
DISCLOSING THE FIGURES TODAY, MR. M.H. WONG, THE CAMPAIGN CONTROLLER SAID THAT HE WAS GLAD THAT DOG OWNERS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE CAMPAIGN TO IMMUNISE THEIR PETS AGAINST RABIES WHICH WAS OFTEN FATAL ONCE SYMPTOMS DEVELOPED.
THE CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN MAY THIS YEAR ON A DISTRICT BY DISTRICT BAS IS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES,
INCLUDING OUTLYING ISLANDS.
IT WAS EXTENDED EARLIER THIS MONTH TO COVER THE FLOATING POPULATION WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS. THE TWO-WEEK DRIVE AIMED AT BOAT DWELLERS WAS COMPLETED YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).
MR. WONG SAID ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO COVER EVERY CORNER, NEARLY ALL THE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH RABIES AND TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS OF EACH DISTRICT ADDITIONAL DOG INOCULATION AND LICENSING SERVICES.+
+MUCH CREDIT SHOULD GO TO THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN PROMOTING THE CAMPAIGN, HE ADDED.
MR. WONG STRESSED THAT THE BATTLE AGAINST RABIES WAS A CONTINUING ONE. IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF DOG OWNERS TO VACCINATE THEIR DOGS EVERY THREE YEARS AND RENEW THE LICENCES ANNUALLY.+
THE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE 21 CENTRES OPERATED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES:
/HONG KONG ISLAND