XN000022-1974-10-27 — Page 6

J

-

- 5-

SUNDAY, COTOBER 27, 1974.

THROWING A LIGHTED CIGARETTE END OR MATCH ON THE GROUND IS HARDLY SENSIBLE AT THE BEST OF TIMES, BUT IT IS CRIMINAL TO DO SO DURING THE MONTHS OF LOW HUMIDITY (SAY, NOVEMBER TO MARCH). THIS IS WHEN HONG KONG BECOMES TINDER DRY AND IT ONLY NEEDS THE SLIGHTEST SPARK TO START A FIRE. REGRETTABLY, THERE ARE SUFFICIENT THOUGHTLESS SMOKERS AROUND WHO ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE THAT SPARK.

STATISTICS FOR 1972/73 SHOW THAT LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES CAUSED 1,808 FIRES, A BIG DROP COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER FOR THE PAST FINANCIAL YEAR. A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THIS IS THAT, IN 1972/73, THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN WAS AT ITS HEIGHT AND THROWING CIGARETTE BUTTS AWAY IN THE STREET WAS SHOWN IN THE CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY TO BE ONE OF THE OFFENCES FOR WHICH A FINE COULD BE

IMPOSED. THIS SUGGESTS THAT LITTER WARDENS MAY UNUITTINGLY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS.

IN THE PRESENT DRY WEATHER A FIRE CAN START WITH THE SLIGHTEST SPARK. THEREFORE, IT IS TIME FOR ALL SMOKERS TO DECIDE - NO MORE CIGARETTE ENDS TO BE THROWN OVER BALCONIES OR THROUGH THE WINDOUS OF MOVING CARS. IF THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED, WHICH IS SURELY NOT ASKING VERY MUCH, NOT ONLY WOULD A CONSIDERABLE CONTRIBUTION BE MADE TO THE CAMPAIGN TO RID HONG KONG OF LAP SAP CHUNG, BUT A GREAT DEAL WOULD BE DONE TO REDUCE THE GROWING LOCAL FIRE TOLL, OF WHICH, ONE DAY, YOU MR THOUGHTLESS SMOKER - MIGHT WELL BE A VICTIM.

-

..

: