XN000022-1980-02-15 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1980

RATES (INCLUDING URBAN COUNCIL RATES WHERE APPLICABLE)

TO BE CHARGED ON RATEABLE VALUES EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1, 1980

ARE

-

HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND

NEW KOWLOON

TSUEN WAN, XWAI CHUNG, AND

TSING YI

TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, FANLING/

SHEUNG SHUI, TAI PO, SHA TIN AND CLEAR WATER BAY

SAI KUNG

CHEUNG CHÂU, FENG CHÂU, LAN TAU

AND MA WAŃ, AND LAMMÁ ISLANDS

11-1/2 PER CENT [NO CHANGE)

11 PER CENT (NO CHANGE)

10 PER CENT

(INCREASED FROM 9 PER CENT)

9 PER CENT

(INCREASED FROM 8 PER CENT)

5-1/2 PER CENT

(FIPS LIABLE TO PAY

RATES 1/4/80)

COUNTRYSIDE FIRE PRECAUTIONS

****

VOLUNTEER GROUPS HAVE BEEN ENLISTED BY THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE PUBLIC MORE AWARE OF THE RISK OF COUNTRYSIDE FIRE DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

THE GROUPS ARE MADE UP OF INDIVIDUAL HIKING ORGANISATIONS WHO HAVE UNDERGONE AN INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE ON FIRE PREVENTION DURING THE PAST MONTH. THE LECTURES WERE GIVEN BY AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S EDUCATION AND PROTECTION OFFICERS AT THE KOWLOON HILLS FIRE CONTROL CENTRE.

THE EXPERIENCED HIKERS WILL MINGLE AMONG PICNICKERS ADVISING THEM OF FIRE PRECAUTIONS. IF THE VOLUNTEERS DETECT ANY BREACH OF THE COUNTRY CODE THEY WILL MAKE A REPORT TO THE NEAREST MANAGEMENT CENTRE OR PARK RANGER FOR FURTHER ACTION.

MEANWHILE THE TOTAL FIRE BAN IS STILL IN FORCE IN THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK, TAI PO KAU SPECIAL AREA AND THE SHING MUN FOREST PLANTATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE HAD BEEN DAMPENED DURING THE PAST MONTH, THE RISK OF FIRE WAS STILL GREAT BECAUSE OF AN EXPECTED INCREASE IN VISITORS TO THE PARKS DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.

BARBECUES ARE ALLOWED IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE FIRE PROHIBITED AREAS BUT THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT IN DOING SO EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN. HE ADVISED PICNICKERS THAT IF POSSIBLE THEY SHOULD TAKE PRE-COOKED FOOD WITH THEM TO MINIMISE THE RISK.

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