FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1986
+ IN THE INTEREST OF PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, THE GOVERNMENT HAS AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE PREVENTIVE STEPS, HE EXPLAINED.
THE BILL, WHICH IS PRIMARILY AN AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE, WILL EMPOWER REGULATIONS TO BE MADE TO PROHIBIT THE IMPORTATION, SALE OR MANUFACTURE OF ANY FOOD OR DRUG WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE PREJUDICIAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
A NEW SUBSIDIARY REGULATION WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT, MANUFACTURE, SELL, CONSIGN OR DELIVER ANY SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
ROUND-THE-CLOCK FIRE WATCH IN PARKS
*****
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON THE ALERT OVER THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL PERIOD TO PROTECT COUNTRY PARKS FROM POSSIBLE OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.
THE DEPARTMENT'S 480-MEMBER FIRE CREW WILL BE MOBILISED ON SUNDAY AND ON MONDAY TO CARRY OUT ROUND-THE-CLOCK WATCH AND PATROL DUTIES, AND PUT OUT ANY FIRES, IN COUNTRY PARKS.
THEY WILL BE REINFORCED BY 340 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CIVIL AID SERVICES.
THE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER, MR S.P. LAU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WAS NECESSARY IN VIEW OF THE HIGH FIRE RISK.
A TOTAL OF 41 HILL FIRES WERE REPORTED ON CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL DAY LAST YEAR.
+THE DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSED ABOUT 23 HILL FIRES LAST MONTH. THE RECENT SCARCITY OF RAINFALL AND THE GENERALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY HAVE MADE THE COUNTRYSIDE EVEN MORE VULNERABLE TO FIRES,+ HE SAID.
MR LAU URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO CAUSE FIRES WHEN BURNING JOSS STICKS AND PAPER TRIBUTES AT GRAVES.
HE SAID GRAVE-SWEEPERS SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS:
* BURN WORSHIP ITEMS IN METAL CONTAINERS;
* DO NOT LEAVE LIGHTED CANDLES, JOSS STICKS AND PAPERS
UNATTENDED; AND
MAKE SURE