XN000022-1978-12-26 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1978

FOREST GUARDS TO ISSUE SUMMONSES

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AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOREST GUARDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ADOPT A +GET TOUGH+ ATTITUDE TO PEOPLE FOUND BREAKING THE COUNTRY CODE.

IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM WANTON DESTRUCTION THE FOREST GUARDS WILL BE METING OUT ON-THE-SPOT SUMMONSES TO OFFENDERS INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM OFF WITH A SIMPLE CAUTION OR WARNING.

AND IN MORE SERIOUS CASES, SUCH AS LIGHTING FIRES IN PROHIBITED AREAS, VANDALISM AND DESTROYING VEGETATION, OFFENDERS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE.

THE +GET TOUGH+ PLAN WAS REVEALED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE COUNTRY PARKS PROTECTION OFFICER, MR. SING-LAI CHEONG IN RELATION TO A COURT CASE EARLIER THIS MONTH IN WHICH TWO TEENAGERS WERE EACH FINED $250 FOR LIGHTING A FIRE OUTSIDE AN APPROVED BARBECUE SITE AT KAM SHAN COUNTRY PARK.

FOREST GUARDS NOTICED THAT BARBECUE ING HAD BEEN TAKING PLACE IN A PROHIBITED AREA AND CONTINUAL VIGILANCE OF THE SITE EVENTUALLY LED TO THE ARREST OF THE COUPLE. THE COUPLE WERE TAKEN TO CHEUNG SHA WAN POLICE STATION AND CHARGED WITH CONTRAVENING 7(1)(C) OF THE COUNTRY PARKS AND SPECIAL AREAS REGULATIONS. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY APPEARED IN NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY AND WERE FINED FOR THE OFFENCE.

IN NOVEMBER, ANOTHER COUPLE WERE FINED $300 EACH FOR EXCAVATING SOIL NEAR A STREAM IN KAM SHAN COUNTRY PARK.

MR. CHEONG SAID THAT DURING 1978 THERE HAD BEEN AMPLE PUBLICITY ON THE COUNTRY CODE WITH TELEVISION COMMERCIALS, POSTERS AND PRESS RELEASES. VISITORS TO THE COUNTRY PARKS WERE CAUTIONED BY FOREST GUARDS OF THE REGULATIONS AND THE PENALITIES IMPOSED FOR BREACH OF THE REGULATIONS.

DURING THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 1978, 31 PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED AND FINED A TOTAL OF $3,425 FOR LIGHTING FIRES IN PROHIBITED AREAS AND 37 PEOPLE WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $3,340 FOR ILLEGAL CUTTING AND BEING IN POSSESSION OF PROTECTED PLANTS. THE OFFENCES WERE DETECTED IN THE SAI KUNG, TAI TAM, PLOVER COVE AND TAI LAM COUNTRY PARKS AND THE PAT HEUNG PLANTATION.

+THE REGULATIONS STIPULATE THAT ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF LIGHTING FIRES IN PROHIBITED AREAS COULD BE FINED UP TO $5,000 PLUS IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

*WE NOW INTEND MAKING FULL USE OF THESE REGULATIONS,+ SAID MR. CHEONG.

THE FOREST GUARDS AND POLICE WILL ALSO BE CRACKING DOWN ON VANDALS IN COUNTRY PARKS.

/LAST