AFCD steps up dog licensing inspections and enforcement
To ensure that dog keepers arrange regular rabies vaccinations and obtain valid licences for their dogs, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (June 1) that starting today, the AFCD will conduct regular licence inspections and enforcement operations at public places where dogs congregate.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Photo source: reference image
An AFCD spokesman said, "During inspections, AFCD officers will conduct random checks on dogs and scan them to verify whether a microchip has been implanted and a valid licence has been issued. The AFCD appeals to dog keepers to co-operate with enforcement officers. If a dog is found without a valid licence, the AFCD will institute prosecution against the keeper without prior warning."
Under the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), all dogs over 5 months old must be licensed, and licences must thereafter be renewed at intervals of not more than three years. Offenders are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000.
The spokesman reminded dog keepers who have not yet obtained a valid licence for their dogs to proceed as soon as possible to the AFCD Animal Management Centres or private veterinary clinics to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies and licensed. Dog keepers with licensed dogs are also required to renew the licence and vaccinate their dogs against rabies every three years.
The AFCD emphasised that regular rabies vaccination and licensing of dogs are not only statutory requirements but also essential measures to safeguard animal health and public safety.
Photo source: reference image
Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications
The Main Programme under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications for project proposals starting today (June 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.
PASS, with a total allocation of $200million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.
The maximum grant for each approved project under the Main Programme of PASS is $3million or 90per cent of the approved project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the Main Programme. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants in relatively longer professional internships or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong that are funded by the Main Programme.
Up to early May2026, over 130projects had been funded under the Main Programme, including project deliverables in and outside Hong Kong. The deliverables include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. Details about the Main Programme and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/main/en/home.
Furthermore, with a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets, $50million has been set aside for the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Details of the PSP and its list of activities are available at www.pass.gov.hk/psp. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.
The Main Programme and the PSP receive applications for project and activity proposals all year round, and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is August 31,2026. A briefing session will be held this month for organisations interested in applying for the PASS funding. One-on-one consultations are also available upon request for discussing preliminary project ideas or projects in the planning stage. To register for the briefing session, schedule a consultation, or for other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 36555418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.
Source: AI-found images
