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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
DRY SEASON MAKES COUNTRY PARKS VULNERABLE TO FIRE
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SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COUNTRY PARKS WILL BE CLOSED NEXT WEEKEND (DECEMBER 3 AND 4) TO PROTECT THEM FROM FIRE IF THE PRESENT DRY AND WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS PERSIST.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR JOHN WHOLEY, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT SO FAR THIS MONTH HILL FIRES HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO MORE THAN 1 400 HECTARES OF COUNTRY PARKS.
AND TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE HEAVILY WOODED PLANTATION AREAS, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE TAI LAM, SHING MUN AND TAI MO SHAN COUNTRY PARKS AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE, HE SAID.
IF THE CLOSURE ORDER IS MADE, VISITORS MAY STILL USE THE OTHER COUNTRY PARKS.
BUT MR WHOLEY ADVISED VISITORS THAT PRE-PACKED FOOD SHOULD BE USED IN PREFERENCE TO BARBECUE PICNICS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH CIGARETTE ENDS.
HE SAID THAT THE PAST TWO WINTER SEASONS HAD BEEN VERY WET, THUS KEEPING DOWN THE INCIDENCE OF FIRE AND AT THE SAME TIME ENCOURAGING THE LUSH GROWTH OF VEGETATION.
+ALSO. TYPHOON ELLEN RIPPED UP A NUMBER OF TREES AND BROKE OFF BRANCHES WHICH HAVE ADDED TO THE FUEL NOW LYING IN THE COUNTRY PARKS.
*WITH SOME 20 RAINLESS DAYS, LOW HUMIDITY AND PLENTY OF FUEL AVAILABLE, THE COUNTRYSIDE IS NOW PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FIRE.+
+SERIOUS LOSS OF COUNTRYSIDE AMENITY CAN ONLY BE PREVENTED BY A MORE RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS FIRE BY PEOPLE WORKING ON CONTRACT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, THOSE WHO USE THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR RECREATION, AND A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER, MR WHOLEY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT MOST COUNTRYSIDE FIRES REPORTED THIS MONTH WERE SCRUB FIRES OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY PARKS.
+NEVERTHELESS THERE IS A GREAT RISK OF THESE FIRES INVADING THE COUNTRY PARKS AND DESTROYING LARGE ESTABLISHED FORESTRY PLANTATION,✦ HE SAID.
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