XN000022-1976-01-29 — Page 6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1976

PUBLIC URGED TO HELP PREVENT HILL FIRES

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY ISSUED ANOTHER APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE CARE AND FIRE PRECAUTIONS WHEN GOING OUT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE COMING HOLIDAYS THIS WEEKEND.

HE ALSO WARNED PICNICKERS THAT ANYONE CAUGHT LIGHTING FIRES CARELESSLY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE COULD BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $2,000 AND A YEAR'S JAIL.

+REMEMBER

IT IS YOUR COUNTRYSIDE.

HE SAID.

YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY,

TREAT IT LIKE YOU TREAT

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO REASON FOR PEOPLE TO LIGHT FIRES IN OPEN AREAS BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER A THOUSAND BARBECUE PITS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THEM TO USE.

EVEN SO, HE SAID, THEY SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL IN LIGHTING A FIRE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY OUT AFTER THEIR BARBECUE.

+ IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PICNICKERS UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF HILL FIRES AND THE DAMAGE THEY CAN CAUSE TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE. THAT IS WHY WE REPEAT OUR WARNING SO VERY OF TEN+.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IF PICNICKERS SHOULD SPOT A HILL FIRE, ESPECIALLY A SMALL ONE, THEY COULD HELP BY STAMPING OR BEATING IT OUT.

+YOUR EFFORTS MIGHT HELP IN PREVENTING A DISASTER,+ HE SAID. HOWEVER, HE WARNED PEOPLE NOT TO TACKLE LARGE AND SPREADING HILL FIRES BUT THEY SHOULD INSTEAD ALERT THE NEAREST FORESTRY OFFICER OR CALL THE POLICE OR FIRE SERVICES.

DURING THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY WHICH BEGINS ON SATURDAY, STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TOGETHER WITH THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL BE MOBILISED TO PATROL POTENTIAL, DANGER SPOTS WHERE THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. A NUMBER OF 100-MAN UNITS WILL BE PATROLLING THE KOWLOON HILL AREAS OF SHEK LI PUI, ROUTE TWISK, TAI LAM CHUNG AND TAI MEI TUK.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO AUTHORISED A LIMITED CALL OUT OF 80 PERSONNEL OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) TO ASSIST IN PATROL DUTIES ON SATURDAY (JANUARY 31), SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 1) AND ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 3).

IN ADDITION, THE BRITISH FORCES WILL BE PROVIDING FIRE FIGHTING UNITS ON STANDBY TO HELP OUT IF NECESSARY.

FIRE WARNINGS AND APPEAL MESSAGES WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST ON TRAINS AND FERRIES THIS WEEKEND.

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