FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1974.
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GREATER PROTECTION FOR COUNTRYSIDE FROM HILL FIRES
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AMENDING LEGISLATION WILL SOON BE INTRODUCED TO GIVE GREATER PROTECTION TO HONG KONG'S COUNTRYSIDE FROM THE THREAT OF HILL FIRES CAUSED BY CARELESS PEOPLE.
WHEN ENACTED, THE FORESTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974 WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO LIGHT OR USE A FIRE IN OR NEAR A FOREST, PLANTATION, PROHIBITED AREA OR AREA OF OPEN COUNTRYSIDE, OR TO BE IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE USING SUCH A FIRE, WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS LIT BY A MEMBER OF THE GROUP.
HOWEVER, IT WILL BE A DEFENCE FOR AN ALLEGED OFFENDER TO SHOW THAT THE LIGHTING OF THE FIRE IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS LIT WAS REASONABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE, AND THAT ALL REASONABLE STEPS WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM DAMAGING OR ENDANGERING ANYTHING GROWING IN THESE AREAS. AND THE ONUS OF PROCF RESTS WITH THE OFFENDER.
THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE APPROACH, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, WAS THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL USING A FIRE HAD A CLEAR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRE WAS KEPT UNDER PROPER CONTROL AND THAT IT WOULD NOT ENDANGER THE SURROUNDING VEGETATION.
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE LEGISLATION WAS, IN NO WAY, DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE OR PREVENT THE PUBLIC FROM ENJOYING THEMSELVES IN NATURAL RECREATIONAL AREAS SO LONG AS THEY WOULD EXERCISE THE GREATEST CARE TO ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF HILL FIRES THERE.
IN THIS CONNECTION, HE ADDED, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAD BUILT 300 BARBECUE PITS AND NEARLY 500 PICNIC TABLES AND BENCHES AT MORE THAN 100 SCENIC AND POPULAR SPOTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR PICNICKERS.
MORE SUCH FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED. AND NEW PICNIC AND BARBECUE PLACES ARE BEING SET UP AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE PER WEEK.
BARBECUE FIRES OFTEN PROVE TO BE A FIRE HAZARD. +BY PROVIDING PROPER BARBECUE FACILITIES, IT IS HOPED THAT THE RISK OF HILL FIRE CAN BE REDUCED.+
THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOLLOWED SERIOUS FIRE THREAT POSED TO VEGETATION DUE TO THE CARELESSNESS OF THOSE VISITING OR LIVING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. +WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE, THIS HAZARD BEGINS TO TAKE ON ALARMING PROPORTIONS.+
THE AVERAGE INCIDENCE OF HILL FIRES OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS HAD BEEN IN EXCESS OF 500 PER DRY SEASON, WITH UPWARDS OF 100 OUTBREAKS BEING REPORTED IN A SINGLE DAY AS AN EXTREME.
THE 1973/74 FIRE SEASON WAS ONE OF THE WORST ON RECORD, WITH ABOUT 1,200 OUTBREAKS REPORTED. THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 700 OF THEM WHICH AFFECTED ABOUT 4,000 ACRES OF WOODLAND AREAS MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE REMAINDER