XN000022-1978-10-02 — Page 7

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1978

WESTERN FIREMEN GET PAT ON THE BACK

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THE FIRE SERVICES WAS TODAY PRAISED FOR ITS EFFICIENCY AND EFFORTS IN DEALING WITH A WALL COLLAPSE INCIDENT AT CENTRE STREET, WESTERN, IN JULY THIS YEAR.

AS A MARK OF APPRECIATION, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WESTERN KAIFONG ASSOCIATION, MR. WONG SAU-SAN AND FOUR MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION CALLED AT THE KENNEDY TOWN FIRE STATION THIS MORNING AND PRESENTED THE DIVISIONAL FIRE OFFICER, MR. R.H. BRUCE, WITH A BANNER.

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER 9 A.M. ON JULY 18 WHEN THE WALL OF A THREE-STOREY TENEMENT BUILDING UNDER DEMOLITION COLLAPSED.

DURING THE RESCUE OPERATION, WHICH LASTED FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS, FIREMEN EXTRICATED SIX PERSONS WHO WERE BURIED UNDER THE DEBRIS.

WORK HAD TO BE SUSPENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FURTHER COLLAPSE OF OTHER WALLS.

ALL THE 13 PERSONS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT WERE SENT TO HOSPITAL AND A NUMBER OF HAWKER STALLS ON THE ROADSIDE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED.

TAKING PART IN THE RESCUE OPERATION WERE 43 FIREMEN AND 12 AMBULANCEMEN.

URBAN CLEARWAY ON MA TAU WAI ROAD AND CHATHAM ROAD

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 5), THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF A SECTION OF MA TAU WAI ROAD AND CHATHAM ROAD IN TO KWA WAN WILL BE DESIGNATED A RESTRICTED ZONE TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 A.M. AND FROM 4 P.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA.

THE RESTRICTED ZONE WILL START AT A POINT ABOUT 92 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH SHEUNG HEUNG ROAD, AND END AT CHATHAM ROAD JUNCTION WITH SHEK TONG STREET.

DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIODS, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP, AND SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS, OR LOADING AND UNLOADING GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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