THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1984
WOMAN DIES OF RABIES
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A 26-YEAR-OLD WOMAN DIED IN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL OF RABIES RECENTLY, A MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE WOMAN, WHO DID NOT CARRY A HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD, WAS MARRIED TO A LOCAL FISHERMAN AND LIVED ON BOARD A FISHING BOAT MOORED AT CASTLE PEAK BAY. THE BOAT SAILS REGULARLY BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG.
LEUNG LAI-FONG, NINE MONTHS PREGNANT, HAD COMPLAINED OF ABDOMINAL PAIN ON SEPTEMBER 19, AND WAS SENT TO A PRIVATE DOCTOR. SHE WAS LATER REFERRED TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, AND WAS ADMITTED. SHE DIED THE NEXT DAY.
A POST-MORTEM PERFORMED ON THE WOMAN ON SEPTEMBER 25 SHOWED THAT SHE HAD DIED OF RABIES, AND THAT HER BABY HAD DIED BEFORE SHE DID.
INVESTIGATIONS SHOWED THAT THE WOMAN HAD NOT COME ASHORE WHILE THE BOAT WAS IN HONG KONG.
SHE ALSO HAD NO HISTORY OF ANIMAL BITE.
HER HUSBAND SAID THEY HAD NO ANIMAL ON BOARD AND THAT HIS WIFE HAD NOT BEEN BITTEN BY ANY ANIMAL WHILE IN CHINA.
MEANWHILE, AS A PRECAUTION, ALL MEMBERS OF THE WOMAN'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
AG TO SPEAK ON DRAFT AGREEMENT
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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, WILL SPEAK ON THE AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE, AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSONS' ASSOCIATION, TOMORROW.
MR THOMAS WILL BE PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE AGREEMENT AND ITS BINDING NATURE.
/HE WILL