MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1977
TOY PISTOL CAPS BANNED
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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WARNED TODAY THAT PISTOL CAPS WERE CLASSIFIED AS MANUFACTURED FIREWORKS AND THAT ANYONE FOUND IN POSSESSION OF THEM WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE COULD BE
PROSECUTED.
THE WARNING FOLLOWS THE DISCOVERY OF TOY PISTOL CAPS BEING SOLD IN THE LOCAL MARKET WITH A VARIETY OF TOY PISTOLS, PARTICULARLY A MINIATURE TYPE ATTACHED TO A KEY RING.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID: +THESE PISTOL CAPS ARE ILLEGALLY IMPORTED FROM OVERSEAS AND ARE BEING SOLD AT STREET STALLS AND TOY SHOPS BY HAWKERS. THEY ARE SOLD IN THE FORM OF SMALL PLASTIC CUPS MADE UP IN STRIPS OR DISCS WITH EACH CUP CONTAINING A MINUTE QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE.
+WHEN THE BASE OF THE CUP IS STRUCK THE CAP FIRES WITH A LOUD BANG, THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS TO THE EYES AND EARS OF CHILDREN, HE SAID.
+THESE PISTOL CAPS CAN POSE AN EVEN GREATER DANGER WHEN COMBINED IN LARGE QUANTITIES. A SERIOUS RISK OF VIOLENT EXPLOSION COULD OCCUR IF A REALLY LARGE QUANTITY OF THESE CAPS WERE PACKED IN BULK, SAY INSIDE A PACKING CASE. HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED A DISASTER WHICH OCCURRED IN KENNEDY TOWN IN 1963 WHEN TWO CASES OF PISTOL CAPS EXPLODED WHEN THEY DROPPED FROM THE BACK OF A TRUCK, KILLING EIGHT PEOPLE AND INJURING 61 OTHERS.
+PEOPLE WHO CAN REMEMBER THE CARNAGE THAT RESULTED FROM THIS DISASTROUS EXPLOSION WILL CERTAINLY NOT WELCOME THE WIDESPREAD RE-APPEARANCE OF THESE PISTOL CAPS IN HONG KONG.
+SHOPKEEPERS, STALLHOLDERS, HAWKERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE IN POSSESSION OF SUCH PISTOL CAPS NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE QUANTITY ARE URGED TO SURRENDER THEM IMMEDIATELY TO THE MINES DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, TELEPHONE NO. 3-688111 EXT. 302 OR CONTACT THE NEAREST
POLICE STATION FOR ADVICE OTHERWISE THEY WILL RISK PROSECUTION.+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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