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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1984
PUBLIC TOLD TO KEEP FIRE ESCAPES CLEAR
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THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AS THE KEY TO FIRE PREVENTION WAS STRESSED TODAY (MONDAY) BY MR K.W. HODGKINS, DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THIS YEAR'S FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, MR HODGKINS SAID, THAT IS WHY THE EMPHASIS IN THIS YEAR'S FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN IS BEING PLACED ON KEEPING THE MEANS OF ESCAPE CLEAR.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF OBSTRUCTION WERE GOODS BEING STORED ON STAIRCASES OR IN THE LIFT LOBBIES, AND LOCKED SMOKE LOBBY DOORS.
CAUSING SUCH OBSTRUCTION IS AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE BY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50 000, HE SAID.
A TOTAL OF 3 005 FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES WERE ISSUED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1984, RESULTING IN 2 426 PROSECUTIONS AND A TOTAL FINE OF $944 061.
MR HODGKINS URGED OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS TO KEEP THE MEANS OF ESCAPE FREE. REMEMBER, THE QUICKER WE CAN REACH THE FIRE, THE MORE EFFECTIVELY ARE WE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT, HE SAID.
HE ALSO WARNED THEM NOT TO REMOVE THE PROTECTED LOBBY OF THE FIREMAN'S LIFT.
THIS LIFT IS FOR THE SOLE USE OF FIREMEN DURING AN EMERGENCY. IT ALLOWS THEM TO TRANSPORT PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT TO HIGHER FLOORS AND FORMS PART OF THE FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATION, MR HODGKINS EXPLAINED.
HE ALSO ADVISED THE PUBLIC NOT TO OVERLOAD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND PLUGS.
+BEFORE LEAVING HOME OR GOING TO BED, ONE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT ALL CIGARETTE ENDS ARE EXTINGUISHED AND ALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES ARE SWITCHED OFF,+ HE ADDED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE MR HO HIN-MING,
AND DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR CHU CHAI-KUEN, SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
MR HO SAID THERE WERE STILL MANY IRRESPONSIBLE FACTORY PROPRIETORS WHO IGNORE THE ADVICE AND WARNING OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE ON THE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF FIRE ESCAPES.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, FACTORY OWNERS ARE REQUIRED BY THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN REGISTRABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS TO MAINTAIN THE FIRE ESCAPE WITHIN THE IR FACTORIES PROPERLY.
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