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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1987
VIOLATION OF THE COUNTRY PARKS
REGULATIONS WILL RENDER A LITTER OFFENDER LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), THE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER, MR S. P. LAU, SAID THE NEW MEASURE IS PART OF AN ACTION PLAN DRAWN UP TO TACKLE THE LITTER PROBLEM WHICH HAS GIVEN RISE TO CONCERN.
LAST YEAR, SOME 4,000 TONNES OF LITTER WERE COLLECTED INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS, A CONSIDERABLE QUANTITY OF WHICH WAS DISCARDED INDISCRIMINATELY ON THE GROUND BY IRRESPONSIBLE PARK VISITORS.
"DESPITE OUR REPEATED APPEALS FOR PROPER USE OF THE 5,000 LITTER BINS AND STOCKADES PROVIDED IN THE PARKS AND OUR EFFORTS ΤΟ CLEAN THEM UP, THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE THIS YEAR WITH A GROWING AMOUNT OF LITTER BEING LEFT AT PICNIC AND BARBECUE SITES.
"THIS CLEALY REFLECTS A GROWING PUBLIC APATHY TOWARDS THE COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT AND SOME PEOPLE'S DISRESPECT FOR THE LAW, HE SAID.
MR LAU SAID THAT AS GOVERNMENT ADVICE AND WARNINGS HAVE APPARENTLY FALLEN ON DEAF EARS, IT IS TIME FOR FIRM ACTION ΤΟ BE TAKEN TO BRING LITTER OFFENDERS BEFORE THE COURT.
APART FROM STRICTER ENFORCEMENT ACTION, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT HAS PUT IN HAND OTHER SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN ALL COUNTRY PARKS TO ALLEVIATE THE LITTER PROBLEM.
THESE INCLUDE THE REDEPLOYMENT OF MORE STAFF TO MOUNT LITTER RAIDS; EMPLOYMENT OF MORE CASUAL WORKERS IN COLLECTING LITTER; PROVISION OF MORE LITTER BINS ESPECIALLY ALONG HIKING ROUTES; ERECTION OF WARNING SIGNS AT POPULAR PARK AREAS AND MOBILE BROADCASTS OF ANTI-LITTER MESSAGE IN MAJOR COUNTRY PARKS DURING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
IN ADDITION, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE FOR CIVIL AID SERVICES MEMBERS TO ASSIST PARK WARDENS IN DISTRIBUTING LITTER BAGS TO PARK VISITORS AND GIVING THEM ON-THE-SPOT ADVICE ON THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF LITTER IN PARK AREAS.
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