XN000022-1981-05-03 — Page 5

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 1951

AS 61 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY PICNICKERS, PUBLICITY EFFORTS CONTINUED TO WARN PEOPLE VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR BARBECUES TO USE DESIGNATED PITS.

FIRE BAN WAS IMPOSED BETWEEN JANUARY 16 AND FEBRUARY 20 AT PAT HEUNG AND TAI PO KAU. NO FIRES WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA WHERE THE EN WAS EFFECTIVE, WHEREAS SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF FIRES WERE REPORTED ELSEWHERE.

TO COMBAT THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN THE BURNING-OFF OF VEGETATION, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES CIVILIAN INFORMATION TEAM GAVE FARMERS ADVICE ON THE SAFE METHODS OF GOING ABOUT PRACTICE. RADIO STATIONS ALSO HELPED PUBLICISE THE

ESSAGE THROUGH THEIR NT AND FARMER PROGRAMMES.

DURING THE CHING MING FESTIVAL PERIOD, MORE THAN 1 000 METAL CONTAINERS WERE PLACED NEAR GRAVES FOR THE BURNING OF JOSS STICKS AND JOSS PAPERS. SIGNS WERE ALSO PUT UP TO WARN GRAVE VISITORS. AS A RESULT, ONLY NINE FIRES OCCURRED ON APRIL 5 AND 6, INSIDE COUNTRY PARK AREAS.

THE BAN ON HUNG MING LANTERNS IN SEPTEMBER 1980 HAD ALSO PROVED EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING FIRES.

DURING THE SEASON THE COUNTRY PARK AUTHORITY BROUGHT 179 SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS FOR ILLEGAL LIGHTING OF FIRES INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS, RESULTING IN FINES TOTALLING $49 010 WITH INDIVIDUAL FINES UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $500.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT DESPITE THE SUCCESS, THERE WAS NO TIME FOR COMPLACENCY. IN THE SEASON TO COME, WE WILL BE PLANNING

+ A REPEAT OF THE FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WITH THE INTENTION OF CONSOLIDATING WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN 1980/81,+ HE SAID.

CARE - AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN BUILDING A GOOD COMMUNITY

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CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN BUILDING AND PROVIDING FOR A GOOD COMMUNITY.

ΚΑΝ

DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUT SAID THIS TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE INAUGURATION OF 24TH TERM OFF ICE-BEARERS, NEW TERRITORIES WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, IN TUEN MUN.

+

MR CHUI SAID THE NEW TERRITORIES SCENE HAD UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE PAST 24 YEARS.

THE POPULATION HAD GROWN FROM ONLY TENS OF THOUSANDS IN 1957 TO 1.5 MILLION TODAY, WITH THE MOST RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN MORE RECENT YEARS.

EY 1985, THE POPULATION WOULD BE 2.3 MILLION.

HE SAID WITH THE POPULATION INCREASING AT SUCH A RAPID RATE THE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND FACILITIES WAS STAGGERING.

THE NEED TO PROVIDE JOES, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND RECREATION.

THEREFORE WE