SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1978
FLYING KITE NEAR AIRPORT IS DANGEROUS ******
THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (KOWLOON CITY) AND A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE JOINTLY LAUNCHED A PUBLICITY DRIVE TO MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF FLYING KITE WITHIN THE FIVE-KILOMETRE RADIUS OF THE AIRPORT.
AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN, LETTERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO SCHOOLS, YOUTH CENTRES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS CORPORATIONS IN THE DISTRICT TO SEEK THEIR HELP IN SPREADING THE CAMPAIGN MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS IS SUPPLEMENTED BY A TELEVISION FILM, VISITS TO THE AIRPORT, AND BROADCASTS THROUGH RADIO, TV YOUTH PROGRAMME AND THE MOBİLE STREET THEATRE.
THE CAMPAIGN ORGANISERS ALSO URGED PARENTS TO REFRAIN THEIR CHILDREN FROM FLYING KITES WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREAS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT SAID THE RESTRICTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY THE 5-KM AIRPORT RADIUS WHICH COVERS MOST PARTS OF THE KOWLOON PENINSULA AND THE NORTHEAST SECTION OF HONG KONG ISLAND. THE DISTRICTS WHICH LIE RIGHT UNDER THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE AIRCRAFT INCLUDE SHAM SHUT PO, KOWLOON TONG AND KOWLOON CITY.
HE ALSO DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC THAT UNDER THE NEW AIR NAVIGATION (OVERSEAS TERRITORIES) ORDER 1977, OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $9,000 OR IMPRISONMENT OF TWO YEARS.
+KITES ARE OFTEN SPOTTED BEING FLOWN FROM THE KOWLOON TSAI PARK, OVER WHICH MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT COMING DOWN OR TAKING OFF HAVE TO PASS AND THE RISKS INVOLVED THUS CAN BE IMAGINED, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT SOME MONTHS AGO, A KITE WAS FOUND WOUND ROUND THE TAIL-PLANE OF A BOEING 707 JUST AS IT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF FROM KAI TAK. AS A RESULT, THE PLANE HAD TO RETURN TO THE APRON TO REMOVE THE KITE. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED AN HALF-HOUR DELAY TO THE AIRCRAFT.
IN BUSY AREAS, KITE STRINGS CAN POSE A DANGER TO PEDESTRIANS AND MOTOR CYCLISTS TOO.
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