XN000022-1974-04-11 — Page 1

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K 香港政府 GIS 新聞處

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1974

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PUBLIC URGED TO HELP PREVENT FIRES DURING EASTER

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VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAY PERIOD ARE URGED TO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT FIRE.

PICNICKERS AND THOSE HOLDING BARBECUES SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID.

PEOPLE WERE BOUND TO FLOCK OUT DOORS IF THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY FOR THE HOLIDAY, HE SAID, AND UNLESS PROPER CARE WAS TAKEN, THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASED FIRE RISK.

+ALTHOUGH WET AND HUMID WEATHER NORMALLY DECREASES THE FIRE RISK, THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL BE OUT OF DOORS IN THE RURAL AREAS BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY MEANS THE CHANCES OF FIRE IN THESE AREAS BECOMES GREATER.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LARGEST SINGLE CAUSE OF FIRES IN HONG KONG CONTINUED TO BE CARELESS DISPOSAL OF LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES. HE URGED ALL SMOKERS TO SEE THAT THESE WERE PROPERLY PUT OUT BEFORE DISPOSING OF THEM - PREFERABLY IN AN ASH TRAY.

HE ADVISED THOSE ORGANISING BARBECUES TO USE GOVERNMENT BARBECUE AREAS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. +DON'T LEAVE LITTER AROUND WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE AND EXTINGUISH ALL SOURCES OF HEAT BEFORE LEAVING THE SITE,+ HE STRESSED. HE ALSO SUGGESTED KEEPING A BUCKET OF WATER NEARBY TO DOUSE THE FIRE IF IT GOT OUT OF CONTROL.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED HOMEOWNERS THAT ELECTRICAL FAULTS VERE A MAJOR CAUSE OF FIRE, AND HE ADVISED THEM NOT TO TAMPER WITH ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS THEY WERE SURE THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING. HE STRESSED: DON'T OVERLOAD ELECTRICAL POINTS.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WERE 8.350 FIRES IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR WHICH CAUSED AN ESTIMATED $85 MILLION OF DAMAGE. +THIS IS AN APPALLING FIGURE, AND IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT ALMOST ALL FIRES ARE CAUSED THROUGH CARELESSNESS OR NEGLIGENCE.+

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Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

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