XN000022-1988-07-15 — Page 36

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1988

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INCREASED FEES FOR DOG AND CAT DETENTION

THE FEES PAYABLE FOR THE DETENTION OF DOGS AND CATS IN A GOVERNMENT KENNEL WILL BE INCREASED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE INCREASES WERE PRESCRIBED IN THE DOGS AND CATS (FEES) ORDER 1988, MADE UNDER THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR. A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE.

OF A

THE EXISTING LEVEL OF FEES CHARGED FOR THE DETENTION BITER DOG IN A GOVERNMENT KENNEL FOR OBSERVATION PURPOSE IS $25 PER DAY WHILE THAT FOR THE DETENTION OF A BITER CAT IS $10 PER DAY.

WILL

THESE FEES, WHICH HAVE BEEN IN FORCE SINCE JANUARY 1983, BE REVISED TO $65 PER DAY FOR THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS AND $20 PER DAY THEREAFTER OR PART THEREOF FOR A BITER DOG, AND $25 PER DAY FOR THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS AND $10 PER DAY THEREAFTER OR PART THEREOF FOR A BITER CAT.

THE DAILY CHARGE FOR DETENTION OF AN QUARANTINE WILL BE RAISED FROM $20 ΤΟ $25 PER RESPECT OF AN IMPORTED CAT WILL REMAIN AT THE $10 PER DAY.

IMPORTED DOO UNDER DAY WHILE THAT IN EXISTING LEVEL OF

THE DETENTION FEE FOR STRAY DOGS AND DOGS NOT UNDER CONTROL WILL BE INCREASED FROM $145 TO $290 REGARDLESS OF THE DURATION OF DETENTION.

ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE INCREASES, THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AGRICULTURE) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, DR NORMAN CHENG, SAID THE INCREASES WERE INTENDED TO RECOVER THE STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION COSTS INVOLVED.

FOR

"THE INCREASES IN THE FEES FOR QUARANTINE DETENTION IMPORTED DOGS ARE VERY MODEST, AND THE NEW FEES ARE STILL BELOW THE RATES PREVAILING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE SAID.

"I

DR CHENG SAID THE INCREASES IN THE FEES FOR THE DETENTION OF STRAYS AND FOR BITER DOGS AND CATS WÊRE COMPARATIVELY MORE SUBSTANTIAL.

aaz

TO

"THIS IS BASED ON THE RECOVERY OF THE STAFF COSTS INVOLVED IN THE HIGHLY LABOUR INTENSIVE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STRAY DOGS AS PART OF A TERRITORY-WIDE EFFORT CONTAIN, CONTROL AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF RABIES IN HONG KONG.

TO

"SUCH INCREASES ARE ALSO JUSTIFIED AS AN DETERRENT AGAINST DOG OWNERS ALLOWING THEIR DOGS TO ROAM ON A PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE, HE SAID.

"I

BY LAW, ANY PERSON WHO LETS HIS DOG STRAY IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, DR CHENG

POINTED OUT.

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