FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1987
14
A LITTLE CARE HELPS PROTECT HILLSIDES FROM FIRES
PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IT TOOK ONLY A LITTLE CARE TO HELP
COUNTRYSIDE PROTECT THE
(CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) DEPARTMENT, MR K.C. IU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
FROM FIRES, THE ASSISTANT
OF THE AGRICULTURE AND
PART OF IRRESPONSIBLE
OVER THE YEARS APATHY ON THE
RAD GIVEN RISE TO MANY NEEDLESS HILL FIRES, HE POINTED OUT.
ALTHOUGH HUMID WEATHER
TO FIRE
DIRECTOR FISHERIES
CITIZENS
COUNTRYSIDE
CONDITIONS HAD MADE THE LAST YEAR, THERE WERE STILL LESS VULNERABLE
281 FIRES DAMAGING OVER 80,000 TREES AND REPORTED IN OR NEAR COUNTRY PARKS, 1,300 HECTARES OF VEGETATION, MR IU SAID.
APATHY OF "THIS CLEARLY REFLECTS THE PREVAILING
FAILURE TOWARDS THEIR COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR
** HE SAID. COMMON SENSE IN CONSERVING THE NATURAL ASSET,
TO FIND THAT DESPITE HUMID "WE ARE DISTURBED NUMBER OF FIRES REMAINED AT A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL LAST YEAR.
MANY PEOPLE TO EXERCISE
WEATHER
THE
YEAR LIKE 1985-86, WHEN MILLION TREES,
"SHOULD THE TREND CONTINUE IN A DRY 306 FIRES SWEPT 6,300 HECTARES TO DESTROY OVER HALF A THE DAMAGE WOULD BE DISASTROUS."
MUN
PREVENTION
MR IU WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT THE SHING
PARK
YEAR'S THIS LAUNCH
COUNTRY
TO PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE
COUNTRYSIDE
FIRE
MR JAMES INFORMATION
CONFERENCE WERE THE DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (NEW TERRITORIES) OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HO, AND THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (PROMOTIONS) OF THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR GEORGE YUEN.
ARE
UNLIKE MANY OVERSEAS PLACES, COUNTRYSIDE
STARTED BY
CAUSES BUT ARE
NOT
NEGLIGENCE, MR IU SAID.
NATURAL
FIRES IN HONG KONG A RESULT OF HUMAN
A BARBECUE FIRE BURNING
"A LIGHTED CIGARETTE BUTT CARELESSLY THROWN, LEFT UNATTENDED OR A STACK OF HAY ACCIDENTALLY SET ON FIRE BY
HE SAID. JOSS PAPERS WOULD EASILY CAUSE INESTIMABLE LOS8,
ון
VISIT THE
WHO INTEND TO
AND USE ONLY PERMITTED AT GRAVES SHOULD ENSURE METAL CONTAINERS AND DO NOT LEAVE
"I APPEAL TO THE GOOD SENSE OF ALL COUNTRYSIDE THIS SEASON. DO TAKE EXTRA CARE AREAS TO LIGHT BARBECUE FIRES. WORSHIPPERS THEY LIGHT JOSS PAPERS ONLY IN BURNING JOSS STICKS UNATTENDED.
ADVICE FAIL ΤΟ
PREVENT
WOULD
MR IU SAID THAT SHOULD PUBLICITY AND THE OUTBREAKS OF HILL FIRES, ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTION ACTION BE STEPPED UP.
/HE POINTED