XN000022-1979-10-15 — Page 7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1979

6.

GRAVEYARD-VISITORS WARNED OF BOGUS GOVT STAFF

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THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) WARNED VISITORS TO PUBLIC GRAVEYARDS DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL TO BE WARY OF IMPOSTORS SOLICITING MONEY FROM THEM.

A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST SOME PEOPLE IMPERSONATING THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF IN THE NEW TERRITORIES PUBLIC CEMETERIES OFFERING TO EXHUME HUMAN REMAINS FOR AN EXORBITANT PROF IT WERE RECEIVED LAST YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR ANNOUNCED THAT ALL HUMAN REMAINS BURIED IN PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN 1972 SHOULD BE REMOVED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, ANYONE REQUIRING EXHUMATION OF BURIED REMAINS IN ADVANCE MÚST APPLY FOR A PERMIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

+THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT DOES NOT OPERATE A PAID SERVICE FOR ANY PRIVATE EXHUMATION IN ANY PUBLIC CEMETERIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THERE IS NO APPOINTED CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE SUCH A SERVICE AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT SET ANY SCALE OF CHARGES,+ HE ADDED.

+ IF GRAVE-VISITORS ARE APPROACHED BY UNDESIRABLE OR SUSPECTED CHARACTERS, THEY SHOULD REPORT THE CASES IMMEDIATELY TO THE POLICE ON DUTY AT THE CEMETERY OR TO THE CEMETERY OFFICE,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED GRAVE-VISITORS TO KEEP THE PLACE CLEAN AND TO PREVENT OUTBREAKS OF HILL FIRES.