XN000022-1972-09-06 — Page 2

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Wednesday, September 6, 1972

He offered the services of the Fire Prevention Bureau, which is on

hand 24 hours a day to assist with enquiries.

"The Fire Prevention Inspection Officers," Mr. Jackson said, "will

continue to carry out inspections to abate fire hazards no matter where they

are found, but it is up to the responsible people in management to ensure that

we do not have to serve a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice."

He said the use of staircases, corridors, gangways and any old corner

for storing raw materials and finished goods presented untold hazards.

Electrical faults rank high among the causes of fire and it appeared that installation inspection and testing was not given a serious or even a

second thought, Mr. Jackson said.

Unprotected conductors, overloading of installations, ageing installations

and overloaded fuses, also gave rise to many fires,

Mr. Jackson said that late calls for assistance figured prominently

amongst the large losses, indicating delays in calling the Fire Services,

"During the year, calls to fire both in urban areas and the New Territories

were on the average attended well within the scheduled attendance time and water

supplies at all incidents were more than adequate," he said,

Note to Editors:

Copies of the full text of the statement

by Mr. Jackson are distributed separately in GIS press boxes this evening.

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