XN000022-1991-10-17 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1831

MR MATHEWS NOTED THAT EXISTING POWERS OF SEARCH AND FORFEITURE WERE RETAINED IN A MODERNISED FORM IN THE BILL.

COMMITTED

of SEARCH AND "THERE IS

FOR POWERS A SAVING PROVISION FORFEITURE IN RESPECT OF OFFENCES OR SUSPECTED OFFENCES BEFORE THE NEW PROVISIONS COME INTO FORCE," HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

RABIES BILL INTRODUCED

FOR

EXISTING PROVISIONS THE RABIES BILL SEEKS TO CONSOLIDATE THE EXISTING THE SUPPRESSION OF RABIES INTO A SINGLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION

ARE NECESSARY TO MEASURES AS SUCH ADDITIONAL INTRODUCES COMPREHENSIVELY WITH THE THREAT OF RABIES.

AND

DEAL

MRS

IN THE

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, ANSON CHAN, WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

MRS CHAN NOTED THAT RABIES WAS A VIRAL DISEASE WHICH COULD AFFECT ANY SPECIES OF MAMMAL. IT COULD BE SPREAD WIDELY AND RAPIDLY AND WAS FATAL ONCE FROM ANIMAL TO ANIMAL AND FROM ANIMAL TO MAN SYMPTOMS DEVELOP.

"IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT OF THE DISEASE FROM BEING INTRODUCED INTO HONG KONG AND, IN THE EVENT AN OUTBREAK, TO REACT SWIFTLY WITH FIRM MEASURES TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AND ERADICATE IT," SHE SAID.

SUPPRESSION of

MRS CHAN SAID THE EXISTING PROVISIONS FOR THE RABIES WERE FOUND UNDER TWO ORDINANCES, NAMELY, THE DOGS AND ORDINANCE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS) ORDINANCE.

CATS

INADEQUATE TO A REVIEW HAD FOUND THAT THESE PROVISIONS WERE ENSURE THAT THE THREAT POSED BY RABIES COULD BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, SHE NOTED.

THE ADDITIONAL MEASURES. WHICH THE BILL INTRODUCED THREE MAIN CATEGORIES, MRS CHAN SAID.

UNIFORM

FELL INTO

AND SPECIFIC,

DOGS AND

FIRST, CONTROLS WERE TO BE MADE MORE SHE SAID, NOTING THAT THE RABIES CONTROL PROVISIONS OF THE CATS ORDINANCE DID NOT APPLY TO OTHER MAMMALS.

AND MOST {ANIMALS AND ALLOW SPECIFIC

"ALTHOUGH THE PREVENTION OF RABIES AMONG DOGS, CATS OTHER MAMMALS IS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH BIRDS) ORDINANCE, THE PROVISIONS ARE TOO GENERAL TO SITUATIONS TO BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY DURING A RABIES OUTBREAK.

"THE BILL THEREFORE PROVIDES FOR ALL SUBJECT TO THE SAME SET OF MORE SPECIFIC

TO BE

MAMMALS THESE

I CONTROLS, SHE EXPLAINED.

/IT WAS