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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold a dog inoculation campaign at seven major fishing ports from January 9 to 24. Fishermen can have their dogs vaccinated against rabies, microchipped and the licences renewed.

AFCD mobile vaccination teams will visit the following fishing ports according to the schedule below:

Aberdeen          January 9
Sam Mun Tsai  January 14 & 15
Shau Kei Wan  January 16
Sai Kung           January 17
Castle Peak      January 21 & 22
Sha Tau Kok     January 23
Cheung Chau   January 24

The half-yearly dog inoculation campaign was launched in 1980 with the aim of providing a licensing and rabies vaccination service for dogs kept by fishermen who work on board fishing vessels most of the time. The vaccination teams will visit the fishing ports from 10am to 3pm. A fee of $80 will be charged for each dog. To date, more than 7 200 vaccinations have been given to dogs on fishing vessels.

An AFCD spokesman said that the service is one of the proactive measures to prevent rabies, a fatal disease that is transmitted to humans from animals. Dogs on board vessels that have visited overseas countries may have come in contact with other animals carrying diseases, making them more susceptible to rabies infection.

"Hong Kong has been free from animal rabies since 1987 and we must remain vigilant to prevent any possible outbreak," the spokesman said.

Under the Rabies Ordinance, all dogs aged over five months must be vaccinated against rabies, licensed and microchipped. The dogs have to be revaccinated against rabies and their licences have to be renewed at intervals not exceeding three years. Dog keepers who fail to do so are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.

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