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An AFD senior veterinary officer, Dr Liu Kwei-kin said 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 Liu said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that rabies was a deadly disease transmissible from animals to human. 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, 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.
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