Sessional_Paper_1948 — Page 208

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5. When traced, owners will be liable to prosecution under Regulations 1 and 21 made under the Dogs Ordinance of 1927.

6. All dogs, except those in the non-mainland areas of the New Territories, or any sporting dog when actually working under the charge of a holder of a Game Licence, must be either muzzled or on a lead when abroad in public thoroughfares.

Acting

Commissioner of Police.

Hong Kong, 23rd April, 1948.

APPENDIX IV.

Report by Mr. F. H. Loseby.

ANTI-RABIES COMMITTEE.

Rabies is such a dangerous and terrible disease that it is particularly necessary to keep a sense of proportion.

Its appearance in Hong Kong is sporadic only, and the human death rate is probably little greater than the U.S.A. where the average for ten years, according to the statistics available, was in the neighbourhood of 3 per ten million per annum.

Any attempt to make the Public rabies-conscious would probably have the effect of making the Public lose its sense of proportion and should not be undertaken lightly, or without full weight being given to the well-known dangers.

The need for medical advice in the case of all animal bites cannot in my opinion be over-emphasised. It might even be advisable to make such bites notifiable. As a layman I can see no objection to this course.

Rabies is one of those diseases which can only be eradicated if action between neighbouring centres or areas is uniform where uniform control is impossible. Again, it is a disease which is of particular importance in any country where animal husbandry is of major importance, and official action to prevent its spread to other countries may require Government control here.

In my opinion therefore it is necessary that the Government should retain in its own hands the initiation and control of any action for the suppression, or pre- vention of the spread of this disease.

Again, the control and suppression of this and similar diseases is a matter for scientists and specialists, the opinion of laymen (including my own) may not only be worthless but may be dangerous, I am of the opinion that in this matter, and all similar matters, Government should act only on the best scientific and professional advice available.

Lay opinion may however possibly be useful when ways and means of carrying out advice is being considered. Any opinion I may express is therefore given with the greatest diffidence.

The value of anti-rabies inoculation as a means of preventing the spread of rabies has been explained by the professional members of the Committee to the lay members, and this explanation has been supported by official reports on the subject from the United States of America.