FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1991
15
"TOGETHER WITH THE UNFAILING SUPPORT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE (RHKAAF) WHO HAS PERFECTED THE TECHNIQUES OF WATER BOMBING AND LIFTING FIRE FIGHTERS TO FIRE SCENES, PARTICULARLY IN REMOTE AREAS, WE HAVE MANAGED TO REDUCE THE LOSS AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY HILL FIRES CONSIDERABLY," MR LAU SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, HE STRESSED THAT NO MATTER WHAT MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT TOOK, THE FINAL SOLUTION MUST DEPEND ON THE CO-OPERATION AND GOOD SENSE OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
HE URGED COUNTRYSIDE VISITORS TO TAKE EXTRA CARE THROUGHOUT THE DRY SEASON NOT TO LIGHT FIRES WHERE TREES RASILY CATCH FIRE AND SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL.
HE CONTINUED TO OUTLINE SIMPLE
REDUCE FIRE RISK. THESE INCLUDE:
AND UNDERGROWTH COULD
MEASURES WHICH WOULD HELP
* VISITORS SHOULD LIGHT BARBECUE FIRES ONLY IN DESIGNATED
BARBECUE PITS;
章
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DISCARD BURNING CIGARETTE ENDS;
VILLAGERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE A BURNING RUBBISH OR STACK OF HAY UNATTENDED; AND
GRAVE-WORSHIPPERS
SHOULD LIGHT JOSS PAPER IN PROPER
CONTAINERS AND SHOULD NEVER LEAVE BURNING JOSS STICKS AND PAPER UNATTENDED.
"ANY PERSON WHO IGNORES THESE SIMPLE RULES MAY EASILY LEAD ΤΟ A HILL FIRE DAMAGING OUR VALUABLE COUNTRYSIDE AND IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT, MR LAU SAID.
H
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO PROMULGATE THE FIRE PREVENTION MESSAGE, HE SAID THE PUBLIC WOULD BE REMINDED OF THESE MEASURES THROUGH PRINTED MATERIALS SUCH AS POSTER, YEAR PLANNER AND LEAFLETS FOR DISTRIBUTION.
FURTHERMORE, DISPLAY PANELS WOULD BE PUT UP AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OF COUNTRY PARKS ON A ROTATIONAL BASIS. TELEVISION AND RADIO API'S (ANNOUNCEMENTS IN PUBLIC INTEREST) WOULD APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN PREVENTING HILL FIRES WHILE PARK WARDENS WOULD ALSO VISIT LOCAL VILLAGERS TO ENLIST THEIR SUPPORT.
HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE USE OF OTHER CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS THE COUNTRY PARKS CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME TO PUBLICISE THE HILL FIRE PREVENTION MESSAGES AND SPECIAL REMINDERS WOULD BE GIVEN ΤΟ GRAVE-WORSHIPPERS AS WE
THE CHUNG YEUNG AND CHING MING
FESTIVALS.
APPROACH
"IF EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HILL FIRES AND IS WILLING TO TAKE PROPER CARE WHEN HANDLING FIRE OUT OF DOORS, THE VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WILL BETTER CHANCE TO SURVIVE," MR LAU CONCLUDED.
HAVE A
/OTHER OFFICIATING