Cheung Chau Sai Kung
February 9 & 12 February 12-13
The drive, a regular exercise since 1980, is intended to help fishermen who find little time to take their dogs to an inoculation centre or a government kennel for inoculation.
An AFD acting senior veterinary officer, Dr Dick Rubira, said today (Saturday) that the drive was part of Government's continuing efforts to prevent the outbreak of rabies in Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong regained the rabies-free area status on July 10, 1989 by having successfully prevented the outbreak of any indigenous rabies case since July 10, 1987," Dr Rubira said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that rabies was a deadly disease transmissible from animals to human beings. Dogs on fishing vessels are particularly vulnerable because of their possible contacts with other animals outside Hong Kong.
"It is therefore important that fishermen's dogs are inoculated against rabies especially when there are reports of recent rabies outbreaks in neighbouring areas," he added.
Under the Rabies Ordinance, all dogs over five months old are required to be licensed and inoculated against rabies. Failure to do so will render the owner liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.
End
Firing practice scheduled for two days in February
Firing practice will take place at the Ha Tsuen/Castle Peak Range on two days this month (February). The public is advised not to enter the area when red flags are hoisted.
Following are the dates and times for the firing practice: