XN000022-1981-01-10 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1981

SUCH OBSTRUCTION MEANS FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT HAVE TO BE CARRIED BY HAND FOR SOME DISTANCE BEFORE THEY CAN BE USED AND

IN SOME CASES AERIAL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS TURNTABLE LADDERS AND ELEVATED PLATFORMS CANNOT BE OPERATED AT ALL,

THIS RESULTS IN INCREASED DANGER TO THE PEOPLE WORKING OR LIVING IN THE BUILDINGS, AND GREATER MATERIAL LOSS.

NUMEROUS ARRESTS AND PROSECUTIONS OF THE OPERATORS OF THESE BACK LANE SET-UPS BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST HAD NOT PRODUCED THE DETERRENT EFFECT EXPECTED.

THE PROBLEM WAS HIGHLIGHTED ON DECEMBER 8 LAST YEAR WHEN A NO. 5 ALARM FIRE BROKE OUT IN WING HIN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING WHICH

IS NEXT TO AN UN-NAMED LANE IN SZE MEI STREET BETWEEN NG FONG STREET AND CHOI HUNG ROAD.

FIREMEN WERE HANDICAPPED IN FIGHTING THE BLAZE BECAUSE THEY FOUND FOOD-STALL STRUCTURES IN THE LANE OBSTRUCTING THE ACCESS RESERVED FOR FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES.

THE PROBLEM CROPPED UP AGAIN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER WHEN ANOTHER FIRE STRUCK THE SAME BUILDING.

THE PROBLEMATIC STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE FIRST TO COME UNDER THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

A PRIORITY LIST HAS BEEN DRAWN UP FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE ACTION TO RID THE DISTRICT OF HAZARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

GREATER DEMANDS ON CUSTOMS SERVICE EXPECTED

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THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR KEITH BROADBRIDGE, TODAY TOLD RECRUITS OF THE SERVICE THAT THE INCREASING SOPHISTICATION OF CUSTOMS WORK, IN PARTICULAR THE EXPANDED RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE HANDLING OF IMPORT AND EXPORT CARGO, WILL MAKE GREATER DEMANDS ON INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS.

THIS IS EXPECTED IF THE OBJECTIVE OF EFFICIENT LAW ENFORCEMENT

WITH THE PROPER FACILITATION OF TRADE IS TO BE ACHIEVED.

MR BROADBRIDGE WAS ADDRESSING A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 35 CUSTOMS AND EXCISE INSPECTORS AND 93 CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE SERVICE'S TRAINING SCHOOL AT TAI LAM CHUNG THE LARGEST EVER IN ITS HISTORY.

MR BROADBRIDGE EXPLAINED: +TRADE FACILITATION REFERS, OF COURSE. TO ENSURING THAT OUR PROCEDURES PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL WHILST ALSO ALLOWING LEGITIMATE TRADE TO FLOW EASILY IN AND OUT OF HONG KONG.+

/HOWEVER, HE