XN000022-1974-08-07 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7 1974

DRY WEATHER INCREASES FIRE DANCER PUBLIC URGED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL

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A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY WARNED THAT THE RISK OF FIRE IS GREATER NOW DUE TO LOWER HUMIDITY AND URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE GREATER CAUTION, PARTICULARLY WITH LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS.

+THE PRESENT SPELL OF DRY WEATHER MEANS THERE IS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE UNLESS THE PUBLIC IS ON ITS GUARD AND PREPARED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS,+ HE STRESSED.

HE CITED THE CASE OF A SMALL FIRE WHICH STARTED IN A HOTEL YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) BECAUSE SOMEONE ALLEGEDLY DROPPED A CIGARETTE END ON SOME CLOTH. +THE CHANCES ARE THAT, IF THE HUMIDITY HAD BEEN HIGHER, THIS FIRE WOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN OUT,+ HE SAID. +IT ILLUSTRATES HOW MUCH MORE CAREFUL PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO BE ONCE THE LEVEL OF HUMIDITY DROPS.+

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HE POINTED OUT THAT CARELESSLY DISCARDED LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES WERE A MAJOR CAUSE OF FIRE IN HONG KONG AND URGED THE PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WERE PROPRELY OUT BEFORE DISPOSING OF THEM. +IF ALL SMOKERS DID THIS,+ HE STRESSED, THEY WOULD BE MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO REDUCING HONG KONG'S FIRE TOLL.+

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF FIRES EACH DAY SO FAR THIS MONTH AVERAGED 15, COMPARED WITH ONLY FIVE OR SIX A FORTNIGHT AGO, AND HE URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE FULLY ALIVE TO THE INCREASED DANGER FROM FIRE AT PRESENT.

TEMPORARY WATER CUT ***** K

WATER SUPPLY TO A NUIBER OF PREMISES IN THE UPPER LEVELS WILL DE INTERRUPTED FOR EIGHT HOURS AS FROM 10 P.M. ON FRIDAY CAUGUST 9) TO FACILITATE A FRESH WATER MAINS CONNECTION.

AFFECTED WILL BE HOUSE NO. 1 TO 15 MAY ROAD, AND HOUSE NO. 1 TO 11 TREGUNTER PATH.

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