XN000022-1976-02-04 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1976

CONCERTED EFFORT TO PREVENT HILL FIRES OVER HOLIDAYS

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MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT AND THE CIVIL AID SERVICES HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS TO HELP THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S FIRE FIGHTING PATROLS IN COMBATTING HILL FIRES.

THEY TOOK ACTIVE PART IN FIGHTING TWO FIRES, ONE ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR (FEBRUARY 1) AT TAI MEÏ TUK IN TAI PO AND THE OTHER THE FOLLOWING DAY IN SHING MUN.

TWENTY-ONE RHKR VOLUNTEERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE FIRE-FIGHTING IN TAI MEI TUK AND 40 CAS MEN WERE MOBILISED TO TACKLE THE SHING MUN FIRE.

THROUGHOUT THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY PERIOD, OTHER CONTINGENTS OF THE TWO FORCES WERE POSTED TO AREAS OF HIGH FIRE RISK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO HELP LOOK OUT FOR FIRES AND LEND SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED.

+THE PUBLIC IS GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THEIR COMMENDABLE COMMUNITY SPIRIT, THIS SHOULD BE A LESSON TO THOSE PICNICKERS WHO ARE CARELESS WITH FIRE,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SÅ ID

ALTOGETHER 13 HILL FIRES WERE REPORTED DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND 9,000 TREES WERE DESTROYED.

THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE BROKE OUT IN THE AFTERNOON OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR (JANUARY 31) NEAR TIN FU TSAI IN THE TAI LAM CHUNG AREA. SIXTEEN ACRES OF WOODLAND WITH 7,300 TREES WERE GUTTED BY THE BLAZE.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF FIRES HAD NOT BEEN ALARMING, THE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRYSIDE WAS DEPLORABLE.

HE CALLED ON VILLAGERS AND VISITORS TO THE NEW TERRITORIES TO KEEP UP THEIR VIGILANCE WHEN HANDLING MATCHES AND CIGARETTE BUTTS AND TO HAVE BARBECUE PARTIES ONLY AT DESIGNATED PLACES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

PICNICKERS CAN HELP THE DEPARTMENT AND HELP PRESERVE HONG KONG'S COUNTRYSIDE BY ALERTING THE NEAREST FORESTRY OFFICE OR POLICE OR FIRE SERVICES POST IMMEDIATELY THEY SPOT A HILL FIRE.

IF THE FIRE IS SMALL, THEY CAN HELP BY STAMPING OR BEATING IT OUT BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL.

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