MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1978
TREE CLEARING TEAMS OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ******
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE EIGHT TREE CLEARING TEAMS IN OPERATION IMMEDIATELY A TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 3 IS HOISTED.
THE EIGHT CREWS FROM THE CONSERVATION DIVISION OPERATE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES IN YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, AND TAI PO- AT SAI KUNG POLICE STATION- KOWLOON HILLS AND NAM SHAN (LANTAU) FORESTRY STATION AND TWO AT P.W.D. HEADQUARTERS, MURRAY BUILDING. THESE CREWS WILL CUT DOWN AND MAKE SAFE ANY DANGEROUS TREES CAUSED BY A TYPHOON. THEY WILL ALSO BE ON STANDBY FOR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY.
AT THE SAME TIME THE DEPARTMENT ADVISES FISHERMEN TO RETURN TO TYPHOON SHELTERS AND FARMERS TO CLEAR DRAINS AROUND THEIR PROPERTY TO EASE FLOODING.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY FISHERMEN AND FARMERS SHOULD LISTEN TO TYPHOON WARNINGS ON THE RADIO.
+WHEN A TYPHOON REACHES NO. 3 SIGNAL, WE EXPECT FISHERMEN TO RETURN TO TYPHOON SHELTERS AND SECURE ALL LOOSE EQUIPMENT AND BELONGINGS ON DECK. DEEP SEA FISHERMEN NORMALLY RETURN TO HONG KONG 14 THE EVENT OF THE NO. 1 SIGNAL,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT FISHERMEN AND FARMERS WERE GENERALLY WELL INFORMED ABOUT PRECAUTIONS DURING A TYPHOON AS IT HAD DIRECT BEARING ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
FARMERS NOW PLANT HARDY CROPS, SUCH AS WATER SPINACH PRIOR TO WET SEASON AND CHINESE SPINACH, WHICH REAPS A QUICK HARVEST
IMMEDIATELY AFTER A TYPHOON. THEY ALSO PLANT IN SUCH A WAY THAT FARM STRUCTURES ACT AS A WINDBREAK AROUND THE CROP.
HE ADDED THAT MOST DAMAGE TO CROP FROM A TYPHOON CAME FROM FLOODING AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE WIND.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HOSPITAL ROAD
***
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECTION OF HOSPITAL ROAD BETWEEN THE SIR ELLIS KADOOR IE SCHOOL AND THE TUNG WAH FUNERAL PARLOUR WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 1 A.M. TO 3 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 26) TO FACILITATE WORK ON TUNNEL STABILISATION.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.