PRH 7 4000001
K GIS 新聞處
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
Sunday, November 19, 1972
NEED TO PREVENT FIRES
**
Not counting the damage to the 'Seawise University', fires in Hong
Kong in the year 1971-72 cost some $85 million, an increase of 160 per cent
over the previous year, or 250 per cent over the average of the previous five
years.
A total of 99 people died and 523 others were injured, many seriously,
during these fires. This again is a huge increase over the previous year in
which 35 people died and 467 others were injured because of fires.
A spokesman for the Fire Services said that of the total $85 million
lost, 82 per cent was borne by factories and domestic workshops although the
number of fires in these places was only some six per cent of the total number
attended.
Over and above this direct financial loss was the amount of work
disruption, lost employment, lost plant, damaged premises, loss of important
export orders and goodwill. This is difficult to account for but represented
an even more serious set-back to the economy, to say nothing of the untold
grief and misery where people lost their lives.
Whilst industrial supervisors, workers and especially management have
their important part to play in fire prevention, the Fire Prevention Bureau of
the Fire Services Department helps by inspecting premises and ensuring that the
standard of fire safety in places of work is maintained, especially in regard to
means of escape and fire fighting equipment.
/He said
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
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