Press Releases

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold a dog inoculation campaign at seven major fishing ports from July 2 to 25. Fishermen can have their dogs vaccinated against rabies and microchipped, and have the licences renewed.

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

Sam Mun Tsai July 2
Sha Tau Kok July 9
Aberdeen July 10
Castle Peak July 16
Shau Kei Wan July 17
Cheung Chau July 24
Sai Kung July 25

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. A fee of $80 will be charged for each dog. The vaccination teams will visit the fishing ports from 10am to 3pm. 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 5 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.