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MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1978
FIRE WARNING TO FARMERS
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FARMERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE BEING INSTRUCTED ON THE CORRECT METHODS OF BURNING-OFF SCRUB AROUND THEIR CROPS DURING A CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO CURB THE INCIDENCE OF BUSH FIRES.
DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, OFFICERS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S AGRICULTURAL LIAISON UNITS AND COUNTRY PARKS MANAGEMENT CENTRES TOGETHER WITH CIVILIAN INFORMATION TEAMS FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL MAKE PERSONAL VISITS TO THE FARMERS, ADVISING THEM OF THE CORRECT METHODS OF BURNING-OFF.
THE FARMERS WILL BE GIVEN WALL POSTERS ILLUSTRATING THE DOS AND DON'TS OF LIGHTING FIRES AS WELL AS LISTS OF TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF AGRICULTURAL AND COUNTRY PARKS UNITS IN EACH DISTRICT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE FOLLOWED-UP WITH REGULAR RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TELEVISION COMMERCIALS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY SPRING WAS THE SEASON WHEN FARMERS CLEARED AND BURNT-OFF SCRUB AROUND THEIR CROPS. THE PERIOD WAS CHOSEN AFTER THE DRY WINTERS AND, BEFORE THE NORMALLY WET SUMMER MONTHS.
HE SAID THAT THE RECENT ABOVE AVERAGE RAINFALL HAS CURTAILED THE BURNING-OFF ACTIVITIES AND FARMERS WERE EXPECTED TO START- CLEARING THE SCRUB AS SOON AS THE WEATHER CLEARED.
SO FAR THIS YEAR 80,000 TREES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN 519 BUSH FIRES OVER AN AREA OF'. 484 HECTARES, FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, 600,000 TREES WERE DESTROYED IN 888 FIRES OVER 1,326 HECTARES OF COUNTRYSIDE.
+THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN IS TO ADVISE FARMERS OF THE POSSIBLE DANGERS IN BURNING-OFF AS WELL AS INSTRUCTING THEM ON THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN LIGHTING FIRES.
+FARMERS ARE ADVISED THAT BEFORE BURNING-OFF, THEY SHOULD CALL AN AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT UNIT NEAREST TO THEIR FARM SO THAT NECESSARY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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