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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1980
COUNTRY PARKS NOW PATROLLED BY RANGERS
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AN ELITE FORCE OF COUNTRY PARKS RANGERS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM WANTON DESTRUCTION.
A PILOT GROUP OF 18 RANGERS DRAWN FROM THE RANKS OF FIELD OFFICERS IN THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS GONE INTO IMMEDIATE OPERATION ARMED WITH AUTHORITY TO ARREST ANY PERSON FOUND BREAKING THE COUNTRY CODE.
AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE KOWLOON EAST ROTARY CLUB, SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER, MR JOHN WHOLEY SAID ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION DEALING WITH HILL FIRES HAD BEEN STEPPED UP BY THE COUNTRY PARKS PILOT RANGER SERVICE.
HE ALSO SAID MAGISTRATES WERE TAKING A STERN VIEW OF THIS SENSELESS WASTE OF RESOURCES OF COUNTRYSIDE AND MANPOWER.
CONVICTED OFFENDERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FINED UP TO $3 000 FOR CAUSING FIRES IN COUNTRY PARKS, AND THE LAW PROVIDES FOR FINES UP TO $5 000 AND IMPRISONMENT IN SEVERE CASES.
+THIS REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE WHICH GOVERNMENT ACCORDS THE HILL FIRE PROBLEM,+ MR WHOLEY SAID.
ALREADY THE PILOT SCHEME HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS. AS A RESULT OF ARRESTS MADE BY THE RANGERS A NUMBER OF OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF LIGHTING BARBECUE FIRES IN PROHIBITED AREAS- HUNTING AND TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS- CARRYING AIR GUNS IN COUNTRY PARKS AND PICKING PROTECTED PLANTS.
RECENTLY, AN ALERT RANGER SPOTTED A GROUP OF MOTOR CYCLISTS RIDING THROUGH THE MA ON SHAN COUNTRY PARK WHERE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS BANNED, HE NOTIFIED OTHER RANGERS BY WALKIE-TALKIE AND AN AMBUSH WAS SET UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. SIX MOTOR CYCLISTS WERE ARRESTED AS A RESULT.
THE RANGERS NORMALLY PATROL IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS AND ARE EASILY IDENTIFIED BY THEIR GREEN TUNICS AND BROWN BERETS. THEY HAVE UNDERGONE AN INTENSE TRAINING COURSE IN LAW AND DETECTION ORGANISED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.
BUT THEIR WORK IS NOT ONLY CONFINED TO ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. LIKE THE IR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER NATIONAL PARKS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THEY ARE FULLY VERSED IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY PARKS SYSTEM AND ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO GIVE VISITORS FRIENDLY ADVICE ON WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO.
THEY ALSO TAKE PART IN RESCUE OPERATIONS AND FIRE FIGHTING
DUTIES.
AS THE SYSTEM IS NEW TO HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO A PILOT SCHEME OF RANGERS AND IF SUCCESSFUL IT IS PLANNED THAT EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE SOME 280 COUNTRY PARK RANGERS PATROLLING THE COUNTRYSIDE.
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