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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1988
"ONLY WITH THEIR SUPPORT,
WE
CAN
HOPE TO
IN
1985-86
RECURRENCE OF THE DISASTROUS SITUATION SWEPT 6,300 HECTARES OF COUNTRY PARK AREAS, MILLION TREES."
PREVENT
THE
WHEN 306 FIRES
DESTROYING OVER HALF A
THE ACTING CHIEF ALSO PRESENT AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY WERE
MR DEPARTMENT, SERVICES FIRE FIRE OFFICER (NEW TERRITORIES) OF THE
HONG KONG OF THE SMITH JAMES HO, AND FLIGHT LIEUTENANT DON AUXILIARY AIR FORCE.
ROYAL
THE
MATTER NOT
THOSE
LIVING IN
MR IU SAID THAT MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY URBAN AREAS, SEEMED TO THINK THAT COUNTRYSIDE FIRE WAS NOT A OF THEIR CONCERN PROBABLY BECAUSE THEIR LIVES AND PROPERTIES WERE ENDANGERED.
זז
FIRES DO COST HE SAID. "HILL "THIS IS A MISTAKEN BELIEF,
FIGHTING ORGANISATIONS THE FIRE THE APART FROM
COST OF MONEY.
FUNDS OF PUBLIC THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT INVOLVED, THE LOSS IN
PARKS COUNTRY ESTABLISHING GOVERNMENT PLANTATIONS AND DEVELOPING
IN
IS
ALSO CONSIDERABLE."
FIRES ALSO
SIGNIFICANT CAUSED IN ADDITION, MR IU SAID, HILL
QUALITY AND WILDLIFE HABITATS, DAMAGE TO THE VEGETATION, LANDSCAPE AND CAUSED EROSION OF SOIL, RESULTING IN SILTING UP OF STREAM COURSES.
"ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY ALL MONEY, THEY ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
"SUCH DAMAGE
THESE IN TERMS OF IN TERMS OF TO OUR COMMUNITY
IN THE QUALITY
DETERIORATION OR COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT WOULD DEPRIVE MEMBERS OF ENJOYMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE,
HE ADDED.
OF THE THE PUBLIC OF THE
CAUSED MR IU POINTED OUT THAT ALL HILL FIRES IN HONG KONG WERE
IF EVERYONE BY HUMAN CARELESSNESS AND THEY COULD BE PREVENTED EASILY TOOK PROPER CARE IN HANDLING FIRES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
"COUNTRYSIDE VISITORS
AND
IN
A
FIRES ONLY BARBECUE LIGHT SHOULD
ALSO REFRAIN FROM DISCARDING SHOULD DESIGNATED BARBECUE PITS
NOT LEAVE SHOULD VILLAGERS AND BURNING CIGARETTE ENDS. FARMERS BURNING STACK OF HAY OR RUBBISH UNATTENDED," HE SAID.
MR IU ALSO URGED MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC INTENDING
DURING THE
TO VISIT YEUNG
CHUNG
THEIR ANCESTORS' GRAVES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE FESTIVAL NEXT WEEK TO BE ON SPECIAL GUARD AGAINST HILL FIRES.
"THEY SHOULD LIGHT JOSS PAPERS ONLY NEVER LEAVE BURNING JOSS STICKS UNATTENDED,
то IGNORE THESE
IN
"
METAL HE SAID.
PREVENTIVE
CONTAINERS
AND
CHOSE ANYONE WHO COMMITTING AN OFFENCE AND WAS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT, MR IU WARNED.
MEASURES
WAS
$5,000
AND
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