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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1977
AIR-BORNE STUDIO TO BROADCAST FIRE RISK MESSAGES
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AN AIR-BORNE BROADCASTING STUDIO HAS BEEN HOVERING OVER THE NEW TERRITORIES THIS WEEK, ISSUING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CURRENT FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.
THE STUDIO IS INSTALLED IN THE FUSELAGE OF A SPECIALLY EQUIPPED ISLANDER AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE.
TWO POWERFUL LOUDSPEAKERS, MOUNTED ON THE OPEN DOORWAY, J PRE-RECORDED MESSAGES TO GRAVE YARD VISITORS IN RURAL AREAS DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL.
BEAM
THE MESSAGES REMIND THESE VISITORS OF THE RISK OF FIRE IF THEY FAIL TO EXERCISE PROPER CARE IN LIGHTING JOSS STICKS AND PAPER AT GRAVE SITES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE THREAT OF MAJOR FIRE OUTSBREAKS RESULTING FROM VISITS TO GRAVEYARDS IS EXTREMELY HIGH.
+REGRETTABLY, TOO MANY PEOPLE LIGHT JOSS STICKS AND PAPER WITHOUT PROPER THOUGHT FOR THE CONSEQUENCES.
+THEY FAIL TO CHECK THE PROXIMITY OF VEGETATION WHICH CAN BE SET ALIGHT, OR THE EFFECTS OF EVEN A SLIGHT BREEZE WHICH CAN CARRY BURNING PAPER INTO THE NEAREST TREES AND START AN INFERNO THAT DESTROYS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF VALUABLE FOREST.
+ IT MAY SEEM INTRUSIVE TO ADDRESS THESE PEOPLE FROM THE AIR IN THIS WAY, BUT IT HAPPENS TO BE THE ONLY MEANS BY WHICH WE CAN REACH THEM ON THE SPOT TO REMIND THEM OF THE IR OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND TO OTHERS.
+WE CONSIDER THAT THE HIGH COST WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE PAID IN PAST YEARS, LOSING VAST TRACTS OF RECREATIONAL COUNTRYSIDE THROUGH SHEER NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS, JUSTIFIES ANY MEANS OF DRIVING HOME THE NEED FOR SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS THAT WOULD AVOID THIS WASTE.+
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