Snakes alive: Hong Kong census workers to be protected against snake or dog bites
Officials say staff will wear gaiters on advice of Occupational Safety and Health Council, but they don’t say how much the items imported from United States cost
Census officers travelling to rural areas for this summer’s population by-census of 300,000 selected households will be equipped for the first time with protective gaiters to shield them from snake or dog bites.
The new safety measure follows a recommendation from the Occupational Safety and Health Council for the upcoming census, which will last from next Thursday until August 2.
The gaiters have been imported from the United States, but officials did not say how many had been bought or how much they cost in total.
Sampled households will be informed by notification letters, which will arrive in the next few days. Those selected may opt to complete a questionnaire online starting next week or through a face-to-face interview with census officers visiting in pairs from July 16.
