XN000022-1974-01-28 — Page 8

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Monday, January 28, 1974

NINETEEN FINED A TOTAL OF $40,850

For Illegal Storage Of Dangerous Gooda

A Tai O woman, who stored almost 1,900 gallons of kerosene on open

ground in front of her shop without a licence was told by Magistrate Mr.

F.W. Blackwell, at Tsuen Wan Magistracy today:: "This was tentamount to putting

a bomb in the middle of the village.

The woman, Miss So Foon-yung, of 77 Kut Hing Street, Tai O Island,

pleaded guilty to atoring 43 x 44 gallon drums of kerosene without a valid

licence granted by the Director of Fire Services.

She was one of 22 defendants appearing before Mr. Blackwell on similar

and other charges, which arose from a series of dawn raids by officers of the

Fire Prevention Bureau on January 15.

Fines totalling 840,850 were imposed on the defendants, all of whom

pleaded guilty. Two other defendants pleaded not guilty and their cases will

be heard on February 8. The case of another defendant was adjourned for one

wook.

Divisional Officer Li Kwok-choi, prosecuting, said Miss So held a

licence to store dangerous goods, but it was in connection with premises about

10 minutes' walk from 77 Kut Hing Street.

"The Fire Services Department realise the need for the storage of.

dangerous goods on offshore islands and have, in fact, issued a licence to the

defendant for many years, but it was issued with the fire safety of the island

in mind." Divisional Officer Li told the court. "This is why the store is

sited on the hillside, away from the middle of the village."

He said