XN000022-1975-05-22 — Page 5

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THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1975

NOTE TO EDITORS #

A PRESS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR AMBASSADOR WURTH TO TALK ABOUT HIS VISIT. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY, MAY 27, AT 11 A.M. IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF D C AND I 3RD FLOOR, FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING, 46 CONNAUGHT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

THE D CAND I'S PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, MR. GERRY XAVIER, WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST YOUR REPRESENTATIVÉ.

CIGARETTE FIRES DROP BY 50 PER CENT

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THE NUMBER OF FIRES CAUSED BY BURNING CIGARETTE ENDS FELL BY MORE THAN 50 PER CENT IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR WHEN THERE WERE 1,241 CIGARETTE FIRES COMPARED WITH 2,923 IN 1973/74.

WELCOMING THE IMPROVEMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THE DECREASE WAS GRATIFYING AND HE HOPED THE TREND COULD BE MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED UPON DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN.

MUCH OF THE IMPROVEMENT, HE SAID, WAS DUE TO SMOKERS HEEDING FIRE PREVENTION ADVICE ISSUED DURING THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN TO CUT THE NUMBER OF FIRES. A GREAT DEAL OF THE PUBLICITY, HE ADDED, HAD BEEN DIRECTED SPECIALLY AT SMOKERS WHO HAD BEEN BLAMED FOR CAUSING ONE IN THREE FIRES IN HONG KONG DURING 1973/74.

DESPITE THE DECREASE, HOWEVER, HE URGED SMOKERS TO BE CAREFUL IN DISPOSING OF LIGHTED CIGARETTE BUTTS AND MATCHES, PARTICULARLY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.

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