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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold a dog inoculation campaign at seven major fishing ports from July 3 to 30. 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:

Sam Mun Tsai    July 3
Sha Tau Kok      July 8
Castle Peak       July 10
Aberdeen           July 14
Shau Kei Wan   July 21
Cheung Chau    July 28
Sai Kung            July 30

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 into 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. Dogs have to be revaccinated against rabies and their licences have to be renewed at intervals not exceeding three years. Dog owners who fail to do so are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.

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