THURSDAY, DECEMBER A
1785
8
WARNING AGAINST ILLEGAL IMPORT OF ANIMALS
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LOCAL RESIDENTS VISITING OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE COMING FESTIVE SEASON WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) REMINDED THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO BRING INTO HONG KONG ANY ANIMALS, BIRDS OR REPTILES WITHOUT A VALID PERMIT ISSUED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
IN PARTICULAR ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS MAY LEAD TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 PLUS IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS INTO HONG KONG AND WOULD STEP UP IMPORT CONTROL MEASURES DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIODS.
+ IN 1984, THERE WERE SEVEN SUCH OFFENCES AND IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR ALONE, THERE WERE ALREADY 24 CASES.
+THE SITUATION IS BECOMING MORE SERIOUS AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE VISITING OTHER COUNTRIES INCLUDING CHINA AND BRINGING BACK DOGS AND CATS ON THEIR RETURN, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN CAUTIONED THAT DOGS AND CATS ILLEGALLY IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG MIGHT BE POTENTIAL RABIES CARRIERS.
+SUCH ANIMALS MIGHT SPREAD RABIES LOCALLY AND JEOPARDISE THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IN PREVENTING THE DISEASE, HE SAID.
HE REMINDED THAT THE IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES REQUIRES A VALID PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO IMPORTATION AND THE ANIMALS ARE SUBJECT TO QUARANTINE OF SIX MONTHS,
+SHORT MESSAGE+ SERVICE AVAILABLE MONDAY
X**
A +SHORT MESSAGE+ FACILITY OF THE INTELPOST (INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC POST) NETWORK WILL BE INTRODUCED TO ALL OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS IN THE INTELPOST SERVICE EXCEPT SINGAPORE FROM DECEMBER 23 (MONDAY), A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THIS WILL BENEFIT INTELPOST CUSTOMERS WHO ONLY REQUIRE A SMALL SPACE (THAT IS A5 - 210 MM X 145 MM) TO WRITE SHORT MESSAGES, MAINLY OF A PERSONAL NATURE AND TO PROMOTE A GREATER USE OF INTELPOST AS THE FACILITY INTRODUCED AT REDUCED RATES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/+DEPENDING ON