3
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1980
DONATION TO PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S WELFARE FUND
****
THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S WELFARE FUND WAS TODAY BOOSTED BY $50 000 - A DONATION FROM THE EXECUTORS OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MR LO KA-CHOW, IN RECOGNITION OF THE WORK OF THE STAFF OF THE PRISON SERVICE IN HELPING TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD IN PRISONS HEADQUARTERS, THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR THOMAS GARNER, RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF THE WELFARE FUND A CHEQUE FROM MRS GERALDINE LO WHO REPRESENTED THE EXECUTORS.
MR GARNER THEN PRESENTED A SOUVENIR, A BADGE OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO MRS LO IN APPRECIATION OF THE GENEROUS DONATION.
HILL FIRE WARNING ****
PICNICKERS AND HOLIDAY-MAKERS VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE OVER THIS FESTIVE PERIOD SHOULD TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTION IN PREVENTING FIRES A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID VERY OFTEN FIRES WERE STARTED AS A RESULT OF CARELESSNESS.
IN THE CURRENT FIRE SEASON AND UP TO LAST SUNDAY (DECEMBER 21), THERE WERE 498 REPORTED HILLFIRES AND MORE THAN 10 000 TREES WERE DESTROYED.
THE TOTAL AREA OF BURNT OUT LAND ADDED UP TO 257 HECTARES.
HILLFIRES HAVE BEEN THE SINGLE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
EARLY THIS MONTH, A FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT IN LEAD MINE PASS NEAR THE SHING MUN PLANTATİON AREA TOOK FIRE-FIGHTERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS MORE THAN 10 HOURS TO PUT OUT.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED PICNICKERS AND VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE TO BARBECUE ONLY IN DESIGNATED AREAS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL FIRES ARE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE LEAVING.
THEY SHOULD ALSO KEEP THE COUNTRYSIDE FREE OF LITTER, HE ADDED.
/4