WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1981
AFTER CONSULTING THE VARIOUS CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATIONS, IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT CHARGES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, PENSIONERS' AND OTHER ENTITLED PERSONS WILL BE INCREASED FROM $35 to $50 FOR FIRST CLASS BEDS, AND FROM $25 TO $35 FOR SECOND CLASS BEDS. THESE NEW FEES WILL APPLY TO QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND CASTLE PEAK HOSPITALS BUT NOT THE TSAN YUK HOSPITAL WHERE THE CHARGES FOR SPECIAL CLASS BEDS WILL BE $30 PER DAY.
THE NEW CHARGES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE MUCH EFFECT ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC. AS THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE BEDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AMOUNTS TO LESS THAN THREE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BEDS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PRESENT CHARGES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET COSTS, AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR THESE SERVICES TO BE SUBSIDISED FROM THE PUBLIC FUND, HE SAID.
PUBLIC WARNED OF NEED TO CHECK FIRE INSTALLATION
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A FACTORY FIRE IN KWAI CHUNG EARLY THIS MORNING CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE DUE IN PART TO THE FACT THAT THE FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS OBSTRUCTED BY GOODS PILED HIGH.
THE FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS OF KWAI TAK FACTORY BUILDING IN KWAI TAK STREET, AT ABOUT 1.30 AM.
THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF NEW TERRITORIES, MR FRED JACKSON, SAID IT TOOK FIREMEN NEARLY THREE HOURS TO PUT OUT THE FIRST ALARM BLAZE.
FOLLOWING AN INITIAL ENQUIRY, FIREMEN FOUND THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THE PREMISES DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY.
SAID.
+WE FOUND GOODS IN THE FACTORY STACKED UP TO THE CEILING, HE
+THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE BECAUSE THE SPRINKLER ON THE CEILING MUST NOT BE OBSTRUCTED IF IT IS TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY.
+THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A TWO-FOOT GAP BETWEEN THE SPRINKLER HEAD AND THE GOODS BELOW, HE SAID.
MR JACKSON SAID AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE BY THIS SIMPLE FIRE BECAUSE THE FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION (FSI) IN THE FACTORY WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED.
141 AFPALL