***********************************************************
Hong Kong will strengthen its current efforts to combat the smuggling of live animals including endangered species, as well as animal and meat products following the intake of five new quarantine detector dogs.
The dogs have arrived in Hong Kong after completing the first part of their training in Australia.
"The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and Centre for Food Safety (CFS) jointly introduced the Quarantine Detector Dog (QDD) Programme in which dogs are trained to detect prohibited items being smuggled into Hong Kong at various control points," a government spokesman said today (January 14).
"The programme is aimed at deterring illegal importation of live animals as well as animal and meat products. This will help safeguard public health by preventing the introduction of animal diseases such as avian influenza.
Kennelled at Ta Kwu Ling Operation Centre, three Beagles and two Labradors, aged between 11 months and 2 years and 5 months, will receive another three weeks of operational training with their handlers.
"Our plan is to deploy them in February for field duty at different control points," the spokesman said.
The dogs are trained to screen a large number of travellers and to detect the scent of raw meat, including poultry meat, pork, beef, other game meat as well as live mammals, birds and reptiles. They will sit next to the passengers suspected of carrying such items.
"The use of Quarantine Detector Dogs has proved to be an effective, internationally recognised tool for the detection of prohibited items. Places such as Australia, Japan and the Mainland also have QDDs at work, mainly at the airports.
"A health certificate or proper licence is required to bring meat, poultry, animals and endangered species into Hong Kong. Offenders are liable to a fine and imprisonment.
"The dogs will act as a visible deterrent and a means of public education to remind the public of the message. The Government has also conducted and will step up publicity to appeal to travellers not to bring live animals and meat products into Hong Kong illegally," the spokesman said.
Ends/Monday, January 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:01
NNNN
