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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1976
+ IF THE SOIL HAS NO VEGETATION COVER, EROSION MAY DEVELOP AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE LANDSLIPS, PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS DURING THE RAINY SEASON, CHOKE UP STREAM COURSES WITH A DEPOSITION OF SILT AND GIVE RISE TO FLOODING OF CULTIVATED FIELDS AND LOW-LYING
INHABITED AREAS+.
+FURTHERMORE THE TREE LITTER ON THE GROUND, ACTING LIKE A SPONGE. CAN RETAIN WATER WHEN THERE IS A PLENTIFUL SUPPLY AND RELEASE IT IN THE DRY WEATHER, THUS ENSURING A REGULAR FLOW OF WATER IN THE STREAM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.+
+ IN HONG KONG WHERE RAIN IS SCARCE DURING SOME MONTHS OF THE YEAR BUT TORRENTIAL IN OTHERS, THIS MOISTURE-
RETAINING ABILITY IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE AND EXPLAINS THE EXTENSIVE PLANTATIONS AND NATURAL WOODLAND IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS ABOVE THE RESERVOIRS,+ HE SAID,
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ROLE OF FOREST PLANTATIONS NOW GAINING
MORE RECOGNITION, IS THEIR VALUE IN PROVIDING PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE RECREATION ACTIVITIES OF THE URBAN POPULATION, ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE ARE NOW GOING OUT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, ESPECIALLY TO THE SCENIC FORESTRY AREAS AROUND THE RESERVOIRS. NEARLY 200 PICNIC AND BARBECUE SITES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THEIR OUTINGS MORE CONVENIENT AND ENJOYABLE.
ALL THIS WORK IS SHOULDERED BY THE CONSERVATION AND FORESTS DIVISION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS 13 FORESTRY POSTS, EACH MANNED BY 20 TO 30 STAFF, STRATÉGICALLY LOCATED IN THE COUNTRY AREAS.
WITH MORE CITY DWELLERS GOING OUT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE HIGHLY RECOMMENDABLE IN ITSELF - THESE FORESTRY WORKERS UNFORTUNATELY HAVE ANOTHER UNENVIABLE TASK TO TAKE UP FIRE VIGILANCE.
+TO MANY PEOPLE THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HILL FIRES MAY APPEAR TO BE UNNECESSARY OR EXCESSIVE+, MR. IU SAID. +BUT SURELY NO ONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO APPRECIATE THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR ITS RECREATION VALUES WOULD LIKE TO SEE YEARS OF LABOUR AND CONSTRUCTIVE EFFORT REDUCED TO ASHES IN A FEW HOURS+.