XN000022-1981-01-15 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1981

TOTAL BAN ON FIRES IN TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK AND TAI PO KAU

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A COMPLETE BAN ON THE LIGHTING OF FIRES FOR ANY PURPOSE IN ONE COUNTRY PARK AND A NATURE RESERVE AREA IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS BEEN IMPOSED, BEGINNING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE TOTAL BAN ON FIRES WILL BE APPLIED IN THE PAT HEUNG AREA AND THE CAMP SITES OF TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE. THE BAN WILL REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY SAID THE BAN IS NECESSARY WITH THE PREVAILING DRY AND WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH PLACE THE COUNTRYSIDE IN GREAT DANGER FROM HILLFIRES.

+AGGRAVATING THE SITUATION IS THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO MEASURABLE RAINFALL FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PLANNING TO PICNIC IN ANY OF THE COUNTRY PARKS TO TAKE SANDWICHES OR PRE-COOKED FOOD WITH THEM.

+AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO AVOID LIGHTING FIRES ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID, AND IN PARTICULAR, VISITORS SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL OVER SMOKING FOR CARELESS DISPOSAL OF CIGARETTE ENDS IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF FIRES.+

FIRE IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE THREAT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND NO ONE SHOULD UNDERESTIMATE THE VULNERABILITY OF LARGE AREAS OF HONG KONG TO CARELESSNESS BY PERSONS VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE.

THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED FOR THE FULLEST COOPERATION FROM ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY DURING THIS CRITICAL PERIOD.

HE REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT ILLEGAL USE OF FIRES IN COUNTRY PARKS COULD RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 WHILE THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR ILLEGAL USE OF FIRES ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT OUTSIDE COUNTRY PARKS IS $2 000.

HE ADDED THAT 178 PEOPLE HAD BEEN PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED FOR THIS OFFENCE SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR.