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MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1975
HELP PREVENT HILL FIRES
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RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO PREVENT HILL FIRES WHEN THEY GO PICNICKING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
+HILL FIRES NOT ONLY DAMAGE OUR LANDSCAPE AND GREENERY, BUT ARE ALSO VERY COSTLY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND
+ FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
OVER THE PAST WEEKEND, THERE WERE 33 FIRES IN THE VARIOUS AFFORESTATION AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE DESTROYED AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC MONEY WENT DOWN THE DRAIN.
IN THE TAI LAM CHUNG CATCHMENT AREAS, A FIRE YESTERDAY DESTROYED SOME 300,000 TREES ON 300 ACRES OF PLANTATIONS. ANOTHER FIRE AT TAI PO KAU SPREAD OVER SOME 25 ACRES OF LAND, BURNING DOWN SOME 20,000 TREES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TREES DESTROYED OVER THE WEEKEND MIGHT WELL BE OVER HALF A MILLION AT A FINAL COUNT.
+ IT IS REALLY A SAD THING, THE COST OF REPLANTING THE BURNT AREAS IS $3 MILLION, AND IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO RESTORE THE LANDSCAPE,+ HE SAID.
HILL FIRES WOULD, AND INDEED COULD, HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE PICNICKERS TAKEN SOME SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY VISITOR TO THE COUNTRYSIDE TO PROTECT THE GREENERY FROM FIRES, HE GAVE THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE GUIDELINES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRES.
PREVENTING HILL FIRES
* BE CAREFUL WITH MATCHES AND CIGARETTE ENDS.
* WHEN GOING OUT FOR PICNIC, BRING PRE-COOKED FOOD INSTEAD
OF BARBECUING,
* REPORT ANY OUTBREAK OF FIRE TO FOREST FIRE CONTROL CENTRE
OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (DURING OFFICE HOURS: 3-688523- AFTER OFFICE HOURS: 3-781211) OR FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT (DIAL 999).
* HELP TO PUT OUT FIRE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
/FIGHTING