XN000022-1980-05-16 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1980

BASALT ISLAND FIRING RANGE OPENS

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THE NEW BASALT ISLAND FIRING RANGE IN SAI KUNG DISTRICT WILL COME INTO USE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MAY 26. FIRING PRACTICE WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 8 AM AND 12 NOON ON THAT DAY AND THE FOLLOWING TWO DAYS (MAY 27 AND 28).

THE NEW RANGE WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL TARGET PRACTICE FOR ROYAL NAVY AND MARINE POLICE CRAFT AND REPLACES THE OLD PORT SHELTER RANGE. THE RANGE BOUNDARY INCORPORATES BASALT ISLAND AND THE OPEN SEA TO THE EAST OF IT.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WARNING POSTERS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT SAI KUNG DISTRICT, AND TO OTHER CONCERNED ORGANISATIONS, CLEARLY SHOWING THE RANGE BOUNDARY, OTHER DANGER AREAS AND THE LOCATION OF FIRING DANGER FLAGS.

SPECIAL NOTICE BOARDS HAVE BEEN SET UP ON PUBLIC PIERS AND AT OTHER SELECTED POINTS, GIVING WARNING OF FIRING AND THE DANGERS OF ENTERING THE RANGE AND OTHER DANGER AREAS.

NOTICES, ANNOUNCING DATES AND TIMES OF FIRING, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE BEFORE EVERY FIRING PRACTICE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL ALSO BE MADE THROUGH THE PRESS, RADIO

AND TV.

LAUNCHES AND PATROL CRAFT WILL PATROL THE RANGE BOUNDARY DURING FIRING TO WARN LOCAL FISHING AND OTHER CRAFT.

THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT ENTRY TO THE RANGE AREA IS PROHIBITED DURING FIRING AND WHEN THE RANGE DANGER FLAGS ARE FLYING. THEY ARE ALSO WARNED NOT TO TOUCH OR PICK UP ANY OBJECT

IN THE DANGER AREAS.

THE DISTRICT OFFICER, SAI KUNG, MR COLIN BOSHER SAID TODAY HE WAS PLEASED THAT THE NEW RANGE WAS SMALLER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM INHABITED AREAS THAN THE OLD ONE.

+FIRING SHOULD NOT CAUSE INCONVENIENCE TO RESIDENTS OR VISITORS, AND ONLY MINIMUM INCONVENIENCE TO FISHING BOATS AND PLEASURE CRAFT.

IT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE DURING WEEKENDS OR ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND WILL ALWAYS END BY MID-DAY.

/+I AM