XN000022-1994-05-21 — Page 7

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SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1994

MICROCHIP SYSTEM FOR DOG TAGGING BEING STUDIED

* * * * *

VARIOUS MICROCHIP SYSTEMS FOR DOG TAGGING WERE NOW BEING STUDIED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND MIGHT BE INTRODUCED LATER IN HONG KONG, SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER DR LIU KWEI-KIN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

"THE SYSTEM, WHEN INTRODUCED, WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT то QUICKLY IDENTIFY THE DOG OWNER.

"THIS WILL PROVIDE MUCH BETTER CONTROL OF DOGS AND HELP PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF RABIES.

**

THE MICROCHIP SYSTEM NOW BEING CONSIDERED IS AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE, IT IS INSERTED BENEATH THE LOOSE SKIN OF THE DOG IN A SIMPLE PROCESS, THE SAME AS AN INJECTION.

THE AIM OF THE SYSTEM IS FOR THE EASY IDENTIFICATION OF DOGS. THE MICROCHIP CONTAINS A 10 DIGIT CODE, SIMILAR TO A BAR CODE. WHICH CAN ONLY BE READ WITH A SCANNER WHEN HELD CLOSE TO THE SKIN OF THE DOG.

THE INFORMATION ON THE DOG AND ITS OWNER IS STORED IN A COMPUTER DATABASE, NOT IN THE MICROCHIP. THE INFORMATION STORED IS SIMILAR TO THAT CURRENTLY PROVIDED FOR DOG LICENCES.

AND

THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS PROVEN SAFE, IS USED IN MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA, GERMANY, DENMARK SPAIN.

'AS THE SYSTEM IS NEW TO HONG KONG, THE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF ITS APPLICATION IN THE TERRITORY," DR LIU SAID.

"A NEW DATABASE SYSTEM HAS TO BE DESIGNED TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS. IT WILL ALSO TAKE SOME MONTHS ΤΟ TRAIN UP STAFF TO IMPLANT THE MICROCHIPS, HE ADDED.

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THE FIRST BATCH OF

MICROCHIPS

HAVE BEEN IMPLANTED INTO 20 POLICE DOGS. THEIR REACTIONS TO THE MICROCHIPS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHEME WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED.

SO FAR, THE RESULTS WERE SATISFACTORY, DR LIU SAID.

STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO GO METRIC

ΤΟ

THE METRICATION COMMITTEE TODAY (SATURDAY) PRESENTED AWARDS 25 STUDENTS WHO WON A CHINESE CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION HELD AS PART OF ITS EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO USE THE METRIC SYSTEM.

THE COMPETITION WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES

PRIMARY, LOWER SECONDARY AND UPPER SECONDARY. A TOTAL OF 358 ENTRIES FROM SCHOOLS WAS RECEIVED.

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/SPEAKING AT