XN000022-1978-09-01 — Page 3

N

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1978

HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT INTRODUCES STORM. ENQUIRY SERVICE

*****

THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNAL ENQUIRY SERVICE AT ITS HEADQUARTERS TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON STORM MOVEMENT, PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.

THE SERVICE WILL BE MANNED ROUND THE CLOCK AS STORM SIGNAL NO. 1 IS HOISTED. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 5-456381-4.

DURING THE PASSAGE OF SEVERE TROPICAL STORM ELAINE FROM AUGUST 25 TO 27, A TOTAL OF 5,117 ENQUIRIES WERE RECEIVED. OF THESE, 2,383 WERE ON STORM SIGNALS, 1,817 ON STORM MOVEMENT AND 917 ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.

BESIDES OPERATING THE TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNAL ENQUIRY SERVICE, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDES 131 TEMPORARY SHELTERS TO PEOPLE SEEKING SAFER ACCOMMODATION DURING THE PASSAGE OF TROPICAL STORM.

THESE SHELTERS, RUN BY ITS TEN CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND HAVE AN OVERALL CAPACITY OF ABOUT 20,000, WILL BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC WHEN SIGNAL NO. 8 1S HOISTED.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN CONTACT THEIR NEAREST CITY DISTRICT OFFICES FOR THE LOCATIONS OF THESE SHELTERS.

13...