XN000022-1973-12-31 — Page 2

Monday, December 31, 1973

HILL FIRES REACH RECOLD HIGI

Public Urged To Prevent Destruction Of Countryside By Fire

An urgent appeal to the public to help prevent hill fires was

made today as Hong Kong headed for one of its worst fire seasons on record.

Since the start of the dry weather in October, a record number

of over 800 reports of hill fires have been received, many of them resulting

in the devastation of the countryside. In financial terms, the damage

wrought in government plantations is estimated at more than $15 million.

According to a spokesman for the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, .64. of the fires occurred in established government plantations, affecting nearly two and a half square miles of hillside and destroying 1.5 million

trees.

"This is the highest record both in terms of the total number of

fires and trees destroyed in the last 10 years," he said.

Calling for greater public co-operation in preventing hill fires,

the spokesman noted that several disastrous fires had swept plantations in

reservoir areas during the past two weeks.

These resulted in the destruction of more than 1,300 acres of pine

and hardwood plantations of 10 to 20 years old which were established for

soil stabilisation, water conservation and amenity uses,

The spokesman emphasised that it was exceptionally difficult to

control forest fires due to the difficult terrain and other factors, and it

was therefore important to exercise the greatest possible care with naked

flames whether they be matches, cigarettes, stoves or picnic and camp fires.

"Persons

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