MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1980
ANTI-RABIES CAMPAIGN STEPPED UP
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THE ANTI-RABIES CHECK ON DOGS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE STEPPED UP THIS WEEK TO INCLUDE THE URBAN AREAS AND FISHING POPULATION.
STAFF FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ARE BEING DEPLOYED IN THE OPERATION.
SOME 84 COUNTRY PARKS RANGERS, FOREST GUARDS AND OTHER STAFF HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE ENTRY POINTS TO THE SHEUNG SHUI AREA WHERE AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY DIED OF RABIES LAST WEEK.
MORE THAN 60 STAFF OF THE CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS BRANCH WILL BE ASSISTING THE AGRICULTURAL BRANCH STAFF IN DOG CATCHING OPERATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
TWENTY-FOUR RANGERS AND FOREST GUARDS WILL BE MANNING FOUR CHECK POINTS WITH POLICE ASSISTANCE.
PEOPLE FOUND ATTEMPTING TO TAKE DOGS INTO THE AREA WILL BE TURNED BACK. THOSE FOUND TAKING DOGS OUT OF THE AREA WILL BE SENT TO THE SHEK WU HUI CHECK POINT WHERE THE DOG LICENCE WILL BE VERIFIED.
IF THE LICENCE IS VALID THE DOG WILL BE RETURNED TO ITS OWNER. IF THE DOG IS NOT LICENCED IT WILL BE DETAINED.
WARNING SIGNS ARE BEING SET UP AT THE CHECK POINTS BETWEEN POK SHEK AU AND DILLS CORNER, SOUTH OF YING PUN VILLAGE, NEAR SHEK U HUI AND NEAR FANLING WAI.
IN THE URBAN AREAS FOUR TEAMS OF DOG CATCHERS WILL BE PICKING UP STRAY DOGS AND DOGS NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THEIR OWNERS OR HANDLERS.
THESE DOGS WILL BE DETAINED FOR FIVE DAYS AT A GOVERNMENT KENNEL AND IF NOT CLAIMED WILL BE HUMANELY DESTROYED.
ON WEDNESDAY ANTI-RABIES INOCULATION TEAMS WILL BE OPERATING AT THREE FISH MARKETS AND FISHERIES BRANCH STAFF WILL ENSURE THAT DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED OFF FISHING VESSELS.
FISH MARKETING ORGANISATIONS SECURITY GUARDS WILL ALSO BE POSTED AT TAI PO AND SHA TAU KOK TO ENSURE THAT DOGS FROM FISHING FOATS DO NOT COME ASHORE.
THE INOCULATION TEAMS WILL BE AT ABERDEEN FISH MARKET DAILY FROM 6 AM TO 4 PM AT CHEUNG SHA WAN MARKET FROM 6 AM TO MIDDAY- AND AT CASTLE PEAK MARKET FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT STRONGLY ADVISED DOG OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR DOGS' LICENCE AND THE ANTI-RABIES INOCULATION UP TO DATE.
/HE WARNED