TNAG-1775-FCO40-2529-Agricultural-situation-in-Hong-Kong-Marine-Fish-(Marketing)--1988 — Page 43

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MDHIAN 4036

STOCK FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS WAS 1,601. HENCE THE DEPOT IS (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) NOT OVERCROWDED.

(III) THERE ARE SUFFICENT STAFF TO REMOVE CATTLE EXCREMENT AND TO WASH THE PREMISES TWICE DAILY, THUS MAINTAINING A SATISFACTORY HYGIENIC CONDITION. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE DEPOT IS A HEALTH

HAZARD.

QUESTION (E) TO (H)

(IV) TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC DISEASES TO HONG KONG'S

LOCAL ANIMALS, CATTLE IMPORTED FOR SLAUGHTER ARE SEGREGATED, AT THE DEPOT, FROM LOCAL ANIMALS FROM THE TIME OF ARRIVAL UNTIL THEIR SLAUGHTER. ALTHOUGH THE RELEVANT HONG KONG LAWS ALLOW ANIMALS TO STAY IN THE DEPOT FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF 21 DAYS THE AVERAGE DURATION OF STAY OF CATTLE THEREIN IS MUCH LESS, BEING 4.4 DAYS ON AVERAGE FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS. THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF THE CATTLE DEPOT FOR THIS PURPOSE DATE BACK TO 1956. THE CARE OF

THE CATTLE IS UNDER THE CONSTANT SUPERVISION OF TRAINED STAFF AND REGULAR INSPECTION OF A VETERINARY OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

QUESTION (I)

(V)

IT IS INAPPROPRIATE, AS A MATTER OF POLICY, FOR RSPCA STAFF TO ENTER INTO THE CATTLE DEPOT ON A ROUTINE BASIS, SINCE THE DEPOT IS SATISFACORILY MANAGED AND OPERATED UNDER THE CLOSE SUPER-

VISION OF A QUALIFIED VETERINARY SURGEON. MOREOVER, ROUTINE VISITS BY RSPCA STAFF WHO ARE POTENTIAL DISEASE CARRIERS THROUGH REGULAR CONTACTS WITH LOCAL ANIMALS, ARE EPIDEMIOLOGICALLY UNDESIRABLE. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF RSPCA STAFF WHEN INSPECTING SOMETIMES DANGEROUS CATTLE IS A PROBLEM.

QUESTION (J)

(VI)

NO CHARGES ARE LEVIED UPON THE DEALERS FOR THE USE OF DEPOT, PROVIDED THAT THEIR CATTLE ARE FOR SLAUGHTER IN THE ABATTOIRS.

CHARGES ARE MADE FOR THE REMOVAL OF CATTLE AND SHEEP TO PRIVATE ABATTOIRS OR SLAUGHTERHOUSES.

QUESTION (K)

(VII) DAILY RECORDS ARE KEPT OF THE ANIMALS ARRIVING AT, AND LEAVING THE CATTLE DEPOT.

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