XN000022-1981-09-11 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1981

HOUSE TO HOUSE SEARCHES WERE CONDUCTED INSIDE THE INFECTED AREA. DURING THE FIRST STAGE OF SUCH OPERATIONS THE AIK WAS TO REMOVE ALL UNINOCULATED ANIMALS, BUT AS THE WORK OF CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE PROGRESSED EFFECTIVELY, SEARCHES WERE CONDUCTED TO INOCULATE YOUNG DOGS WHICH WERE BORN AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF RABIES WAS REPORTED AND TO REMOVE UNWANTED ANIMALS.

SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 117 043 DOGS HAVE BEEN INOCULATED AGAINST RABIES AND 81 477 DESTROYED.

MR YIP STRESSED THAT EFFORTS TO CHECK THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE WOULD NOT BE RELAXED.

+ORGANISED OPERATIONS TO CATCH ALL UNINOCULATED DOGS ARE STILL BEING CARRIED OUT ON A TERRITORY-WIDE BASIS.+

+IT IS CONSIDERED THAT MOST DOGS IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN INOCULATED AGAINST RABIES. THE DOG POPULATION IS NOW LARGELY IMMUNE AND ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE OUTBREAK COULD BE CONTAINED,+ MR YIP SAID.

WHILE THE EXISTING FOUR CHECKPOINTS AT LAM TEI, TAI PO, TAI MO SHAN AND TAI MEI TUK IN THE INFECTED AREA WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY FROM TODAY, DOG MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED AT THE ENTRY POINTS TO THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA.

NO DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO OR OUT OF THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA EXCEPT WITH THE PERMISSION FROM THE DEPARTMENT. SPECIAL DOG MOVEMENT AUTHORISATION PERMITS MAY BE OBTAINED FOR SPECIAL CASES.

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR BREACHING THE REGULATION IS $2 000.

MR YIP EMPHASISED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST RADIES, TO CATCH STRAY DOGS IN HONG KONG AND TO GUARD AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DISEASE RE-APPEARING.

HE URGED ALL DOG OWNERS TO EXERCISE PROPER CONTROL OVER THE IR PETS AND KEEP THEM ON A LEASH AT ALL TIMES WHEN OUT OF DOORS.

THE PUBLIC SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM STRAY DOGS AND REPORT THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT.

*WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC, THE SITUATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, AND WE HOPE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO CO-OPERATE,+ MR YIP SAID.

NOTE TO EDITORS

SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER_MR_THOMAS YIP WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS BY THE MEDIA BETWEEN 2 AND 3 PM TODAY (FRIDAY). MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO PROCEED TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ON THE 14TH FLOOR OF THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES AT 393 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.

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