XN000022-1975-03-22 — Page 3

SATURDAY, MARCH 22,

FIRE SERVICES PLANNING FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION

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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING A FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION TO TAKE PLACE IN THE AUTUMN.

THE EXHIBITION IS EXPECTED TO LAST FROM SEVEN TO TEN DAYS AND WILL PROBABLY BE HELD AT EITHER THE OCEAN TERMINAL OR THE CITY HALL.

A TOTAL OF 12 PRIVATE FIRMS DEALING IN FIRE PREVENTION EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TAKE PART AND SO FAR 11 HAVE RESPONDED FAVOURABLY,

A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID NOVEMBER WAS A LIKELY DATE FOR THE EXHIBITION AS THIS WAS USUALLY THE MONTH WHEN THE NUMBER OF FIRES INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BECAUSE OF DRIER WEATHER.

*THE AIM OF THE EXHIBITION WILL BE TO AROUSE PEOPLE'S AWARENESS OF THE INCREASING FIRE DANGER IN HONG KONG, HE STATED, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.+

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HE SAID AN INITIAL PLANNING MEETING WOULD BE HELD NEXT WEEK ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FIRE SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AND FIRMS TAKING PART.

THE EXHIBITION WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG. IF IT PROVES SUCCESSFUL, CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO HOLDING ONE EVERY TWO YEARS.

ADVANCE BOOKINGS OF TRAIN TICKETS EXTENDED ******

TRAIN PASSENGERS TRAVELLING FIRST CLASS WILL BE ABLE TO BOOK TICKETS ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE STARTING FROM TUESDAY (MARCH 25). AT PRESENT, RESERVATIONS CAN ONLY BE MADE ONE DAY IN ADVANCE. -

ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, MR. REGINALD GREGORY, THE ADVANCE BOOKING SCHEME HAD PROVED VERY POPULAR SINCE IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED LAST NOVEMBER, AND 6,219 PEOPLE HAD MADE USE OF THE SERVICE.

THE FACILITY WAS PARTICULARLY POPULAR OVER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR PERIOD WHEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOCKED TO THE THE NEW TERRITORIES AND CHINA.

THE THERE IS NO EXTRA CHARGE IF TICKETS ARE BOUGHT AT THE TIME OF MAKING THE RESERVATION.

DURING THE FOUR MONTHS THE SCHEME HAS BEEN IN OPERATION, NO PASSENGER CHOSE TO RESERVE A SEAT WITHOUT PURCHASING A TICKET. IN VIEW OF THIS, MR. GREGORY SAID THE SERVICE OF RESERVATION WITHOUT IMMEDIATELY PURCHASING THE TICKETS WILL WITHDRAWN.

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