XN000022-1981-02-03 — Page 7

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981

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NEW POLITICAL ADVISER NAMED

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THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR ROBIN MCLAREN AS THE NEXT POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG.

MR MCLAREN HEAD OF THE FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE PRESENT POLITICAL ADVISER, DR DAVID WILSON, IN OCTOBER ON COMPLETION OF HIS TOUR OF DUTY IN HONG KONG.

THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S POST IS BEING UPGRADED AND ON HIS ARRIVAL MR MCLAREN WILL OPERATE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS A SECRETARY IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

MR MCLAREN WAS A LANGUAGE STUDENT IN HONG KONG FROM 1959-60. HE SERVED IN THE BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING FROM 1960-61 AND WAS ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG FROM 1968-70. BETWEEN THESE TWO PERIODS, FROM 1963-64, HE WAS ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY TO MR EDWARD HEATH, THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AT THE TIME. AFTER SERVING AS COUNSELLOR AND HEAD OF CHANCERY IN THE BRITISH EMBASSY, COPENHAGEN, FROM 1975-78, HE RETURNED TO THE FCO AS HEAD OF HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY POSTED TO HIS PRESENT JOB AS HEAD OF THE FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER 1979.

MR MCLAREN WILL BE 47 WHEN HE TAKES UP HIS POST. HE IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN.

FIRE WATCH ON HOLIDAYS

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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN SQUATTER AREAS, TO EXERCISE CARE WHEN CONDUCTING RITUAL CEREMONIES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT WHEN BURNING JOSS STICKS, CANDLES AND WORSHIPPING MATERIALS PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE GOING TO BED AND WHEN LEAVING THEIR RESIDENCE.

+WE MUST EMPHASISE THAT MANY FIRES BREAK OUT BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+PEOPLE MUST BE MORE FIRE CONSCIOUS IN ANY FESTIVE SEASON TO AVOID TRAGEDY WHICH CAN AFFECT MANY OTHERS. IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.+

HE RECALLED THAT DURING THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS ON FEBRUARY 1, 1976 MORE THAN 500 WOODEN AND TIN STRUCTURES, AND GROUNDED JUNKS USED AS HOMES IN ALDRICH BAY, SHAU KEI WAN, WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE IN SEVERAL HOURS. AS A RESULT MORE THAN 3 000 PEOPLE WERE MADE HOMELESS.

+THIS IS A GRIM REMINDER OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN, AND IF REPETITION IS TO BE AVOIDED THEN ALL PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

/HE ALSO