THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1976
SIR MURRAY SAID THAT IN HONG KONG, AND I BELIEVE IN MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, IT IS THE HOPE THAT DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, WILL MAINTAIN THE ACCESS TO THEIR MARKETS THAT NOW EXISTS AND OPEN THEM MORE FREELY.+
HE SAID THE VARIOUS GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEMES HAD CERTAINLY HELPED, BUT ONLY WENT A SMALL WAY TO FREEING TRADE.
FIRE HAZARD INSPECTIONS *****
A TEAM OF FIRE: OFFICERS TODAY PAID A SURPRISE VISIT TO FACTORIES IN ABERDEEN AS PART OF A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO ABATE FIRE HAZARDS.
THE TEAM INSPECTED MORE THAN 420 FACTORIES IN WONG CHUK HANG ROAD INCLUDING THE FACTORY BUILDING WHERE A THIRD ALARM FIRE BROKE OUT THIS MORNING.
DURING A FLOOR BY FLOOR CHECK, THEY DISCOVERED A NUMBER OF HAZARDS SUCH AS OBSTRUCTIONS TO MEANS OF ESCAPE AND COMMON AREAS, AND BLOCKED LIFT LOBBIES.
AS A RESULT OF THE INSPECTION, 37 FACTORY OWNERS WILL BE SERVED WITH FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES REQUIRING THEM TO CLEAR THE HAZARDS WITHIN A STIPULATED PERIOD.
SUMMONSES WILL ALSO BE TAKEN OUT AGAINST SEVEN FACTORIES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ABATEMENT NOTICES PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THEM.
COMMENTING ON THE INSPECTION, A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID: +THE SITUATION IN THESE FACTORIES HAS BEEN IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THEY WERE LAST INSPECTED.+
HE NOTED THAT BLOCKING OF STAIRWAYS OR LIFT LOBBIES HAD BEEN TOO PREVALENT AN OFFENCE PARTICULARLY IN INDUSTRIAL PREMISES WHERE STA IRWAYS WERE OFTEN REGARDED AS CONVENIENT STORAGE AREAS.
+THESE CONDITIONS OFTEN HAMPER FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS IN THE EVENT OF FIRE AND HENCE INCREASE FIRE AND OTHER LOSSES,+ HE SAID.
FURTHER VISITS ARE PLANNED TO FACTORY AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR IN THE COMING MONTHS.
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