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FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1974
FIREMEN SWOOP ON MONGKOK BUILDING
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OFFICERS FROM THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU SPENT MOST OF TODAY IN A MUNGKOK BUILDING LOOKING FOR FIRE HAZARDS.
IN A SURPRISE OPERATION MOUNTED IN STRICTEST SECRECY, 20 OFFICERS SWOOPED ON THE BUILDING 22-22A CHERRY STREET THIS MORNING AND UNCOVERED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HAZARDS INCLUDING BLOCKED EXITS, PLASTICS FACTORIES AND STRUCTURES IN OPEN COMMUN AREAS.
A TOTAL OF 352 FLAT UNITS WERE CHECKED AND 29 FIRE ABATEMENT HAZARD NUTICES SERVED. THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE GIVEN FROM TWO TO EIGHT WEEKS TO PUT THE HAZARDS RIGHT, ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF THE HAZARD. FAILURE TO COMPLY COULD LEAD TO COURT ACTION.
THE SEARCH OF THE 15-STOREY BUILDING WAS MOUNTED IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS FROM OCCUPANTS ABOUT THE DANGERS SHOULD A FIRE OCCUR.
THE 20 OFFICERS, COMMANDED BY MR. LI KWOK-CHOI, DIVISIONAL OFFICER (COMPLAINTS AND PROSECUTIONS), WERE SPLIT INTO FIVE TEAMS EACH OF WHICH WAS GIVEN AN AREA TO SURVEY. THE OPERATION BEGAN AT 9.30 A.M. AND CONTINUED TILL LATE AFTERNOON.
FACTURIES SERVED WITH NOTICES MUST EITHER CLUSE OR CHANGE THE PRODUCT THEY ARE MANUFACTURING TO SOMETHING WHICH DOES NOT PUSE A FIRE RISK.
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A NUMBER OF THE HAZARDS WERE PASSED TO THE BUILDING'S INCORPORATED OWNERS' ASSOCIATION FOR ACTION. REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ASSOCIATION WERE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE OPERATION.
THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU CONDUCTS THOUSANDS OF INVESTIGATIONS EACH YEAR LOOKING FOR FIRE HAZARDS IN BUILDINGS, FACTORIES, CINEMAS AND OTHER PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT.
A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID: +WE URGE THE PUBLIC TO REPORT IJ US IMMEDIATELY ANY FIRE HAZARDS WHICH THEY SEE.+
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN DURING THE OPERATION ARE BOXED FOR COLLECTION,
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