THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1979
BAN ON BARBEQUING IN THREE FORESTRY AREAS
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A TOTAL BAN ON BARBEQUING IS BEING ENFORCED IN THREE MAJOR FORESTRY PLANTATION AREAS IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT COUNTRYSIDE FIRES.
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE THE WHOLE OF THE TAI PO KAU SPECIAL AREA, THE SHING MUN FOREST WITHIN THE SHING MUN COUNTRY PARK AND THE WHOLE OF THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK (EXCEPT ALONG THE PAT HEUNG CATCHWATER) HAVE BEEN DECLARED BARBEQUE-PROHIBITED AREAS BY THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY.
THIS WILL MEAN A CLOSURE OF ABOUT 50 DESIGNATED BARBEQUE SITES AND CAMPSITES.
VEHICULAR ACCESS IN KAM SHAN COUNTRY PARK AND ALONG THE PAT HEUNG CATCHWATER WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
NOTICES WILL BE POSTED AT EACH OF THE SITES ADVISING OF THE CLOSURE ACTION.
THE STERN MEASURES WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR. MARTIN LEWIS.
+ IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TAKE STRICTER MEASURES SUCH AS CLOSING PARTS OF SOME COUNTRY PARKS WE WILL NOT HESTITATE TO DO SO+, HE SAID.
SINCE OCTOBER 1 MORE THAN 500 000 TREES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND SOME 2 000 HECTARES OF GRASSLAND HAVE BEEN RAZED BY HILL FIRES, ALL OF WHICH WERE STARTED BY CARELESS GRAVE WORSHIPPERS, FARMERS AND PICNICKERS IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE INCLUDING THE COUNTRY PARKS.
+ IT IS UNFORTUNATE WE HAVE TO LIMIT THE RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES WITHIN THESE THREE AREAS, BUT VISITORS ARE REMINDED THAT THERE ARE 21 COUNTRY PARKS IN HONG KONG FOR RECREATIONAL USE, SO WITH PROPER FORWARD PLANNING THEY CAN GO ELSEWHERE.
+THE NEW CONTROLS ARE NECESSARY TO CURB ANY FURTHER DESTRUCTION OF THE HEAVILY WOODED AREAS.
+ANY PERSON FOUND LIGHTING A FIRE WITHIN THE PROHIBITED AREAS IS LIABLE TO FINE OF $5 000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT. THIS PENALTY ALSO APPLIES TO ANY FIRE OUTSIDE A DESIGNATED BARBEQUE SITE WITHIN A COUNTRY PARK. THE PENALTY FOR LIGHTING FIRES IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE IS $2.000 FINE AND A YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT,+ SAID MR. LEWIS.
HE SAID A CAMPAIGN TO ADVISE FARMERS ON PROPER PROCEDURES BURNING OFF THEIR CROPS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD ABOUT FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS FIRE RISK.
+AGRICULTURE EXTENSION OFFICERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT AND FOREST GUARDS WILL BE VISITING INDIVIDUAL FARMERS IN THE PAT HEUNG AND LAM TSUEN AREAS ADVISING THEM OF THE DO'S AND DON'TS IN BURNING OFF THEIR CROPS.
+POSTERS DEPICTING THE CORRECT METHOD WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE PROBLEM AREAS. AND AGAIN, ANY FARMER WHO ALLOWS HIS CROP FIRE TO GET OUT OF CONTROL IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE FACES A FINE OF $2 000 AND A YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT,+ SAID MR. LEWIS.