XN000022-1978-09-28 — Page 4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1978

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TO DRAW PUBLIC'S ATTENTION ON ALL THESE FIRE HAZARDS, A SERIES OF SHORT TV FILMS, POSTERS AND STICKERS WILL BE PRODUCED. IN ADDITION, RTHK HAS PRODUCED A SPECIAL SERIES OF 13 FIVE-MINUTE TV PROGRAMMES ON FIRE PREVENTION AND THESE WILL BE SCREENED ON THE CHINESE CHANNELS EVERY THURSDAY.

MR. J.W. WHOLEY, SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER WHO ALSO ATTENDED THE PRESS CONFERENCE, SAID THAT THERE WERE 625 HILL FIRES LAST YEAR IN SPITE, OF THE WET AND HUMID WINTER.

+ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF THESE HILL FIRES OCCURRED DURING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, AND THIS CLEARLY INDICATED THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONNECTION WITH THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, + HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT, IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING ITS FIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITIES AND EXTENDING ITS PROTECTIVE COVERAGE, THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN ITS PATROLLING STAFF WHO WILL PROSECUTE ANYONE LIGHTING A FIRE IN UNAUTHORISED PLACES.

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR SUCH AN OFFENCE IS A FINE OF $5,000 AND A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT.

MR. WHOLEY ALSO APPEALED TO PICNICKERS TO CO-OPERATE AND DEVELOP A MORE RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS FIRE PREVENTION.

WITH THE COMING OF THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 10, HE URGED THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IN HANDLING JOSS STICKS AND OTHER ITEMS WHICH CAN CAUSE FIRE.

MR. J.P. WOOD, CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, SAID FACTORY FIRES OCCUR MOSTLY OUTSIDE WORK ING HOURS.

THE MAJOR CAUSE, HE SAID, IS BAD HOUSE-KEEPING SUCH AS THE ACCUMULATION OF TRADE-WASTE, AND STORAGE OF RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED GOODS IN CORRIDORS AND WORKROOMS,

HE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE FIRES IN EVERY SECTOR OF THE INDUSTRY, IT APPEARS THAT THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY SHARES A HIGHER PROPORTION THAN OTHER TRADES. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT FIGURES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAD SHOWED A WELCOME DROP IN THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL FIRES.

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