SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1979
KEEP FIRE RISK DOWN
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FOREST GUARDS AND SENIOR STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL STEP UP PATROLLING THE COUNTRY PARKS THIS WEEKEND TO ENSURE VISITORS HEED THEIR ADVICE KEEP THE FIRE RISK DOWN.
AND IF THE ADVICE IS NOT TAKEN THEN THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY MAY BE FORCED TO CLOSE SOME OR PART OF THE PARKS AT SHORT NOTICE.
THE WARNING WAS MADE TODAY (SATURDAY) BY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR. JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, AFTER THE AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE THREE OF THE HEAVILY WOODED AREAS THE TAI PO KAU SPECIAL AREA, THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK (EXCEPT ALONG THE PAT HEUNG CATCHWATER) AND THE SHING MUN FOREST IN THE SHING MUN COUNTRY PARK - HAVE BEEN DECLARED BARBECUE FREE AREAS.
MR. RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, THE NEWLY FORMED COUNTRY PARKS RANGER SQUADS WILL ALSO BE PATROLLING THE COUNTRYSIDE TO ENSURE PICNICKERS CONFINE THEIR FIRES TO DESIGNATED BARBECUE SITES.
FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RENDER THE CULPRIT TO A $5 000 FINE AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT.
+THE RISK OF FIRE CAN BE GREATLY MINIMISED IF PEOPLE PLANNING TO SPEND A DAY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE TAKE WITH THEM PRECOOKED MEALS AND SANDWICHES.
+TO CLOSE PART OR SOME OF THE COUNTRY PARKS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD NOT LIKE TO ENFORCE, BUT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OUR SCENIC ATTRACTIONS AND FOREST AREAS IT MAY BE NECESSARY, IF VISITORS DO NOT HEED OUR ADVICE,+ SAID MR. RIDDELL-SWAN.
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APPOINTMENT OF HIGH COURT JUDGE
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THE QUEEN HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. DENNIS ALBERT BARKER, Q.C., TO BE A HIGH COURT JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF HONG KÔNG.
MR. JUSTICE BARKER WAS BORN IN ENGLAND ON JUNE 9, 1926. HE WAS EDUCATED AT NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL AND QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD, WHERE HE WAS A JODRELL SCHOLAR. HE GRADUATED WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE IN CLASSICS IN 1949. HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR OF MIDDLE TEMPLE IN 1950 AND BECAME A MEMBER OF THE MIDLAND CIRCUIT.
BETWEEN 1963 AND 1971 HE WAS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS, SINCE 1972 HE HAS BEEN A RECORDER OF THE CROWN COURT. HE TOOK SILK IN 1968 AND BECAME A BENCHER OF HIS INN IN 1975. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD.
MR. JUSTICE BARKER IS THE FIRST APPOINTMENT IN RECENT TIMES OF AN ENGLISH PRACTISING BARRISTER TO THE HONG KONG BENCH. IT IS EXPECTED THAT HE WILL COMMENCE SITTING EARLY IN 1980.
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