XN000022-1981-12-17 — Page 4

THURSDA

SEMBER 1 1981

SPEAKERS AT THE SEMINAR INCLUDED MR CHEUNG LUN, SECRETARY, HONG KONG AND KOWLOON CEMENT AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION TRADE WOKERS UNION MR HO SAI-CHU, PRESIDENT, THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION, MR KAM HUNG-YUEN, AREA CONSUMERS ENGINEER, CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CÓ LTD- MR WONG YUM-YIN, SAFETY OFFICER, GAMMON (HK) LTD- MR MA CHING-KO, VICE-CHAIRMAN, HONG KONG AND KOWLOON CARPENTERS GENERAL UNION AND MR CHENG KWONG-KUI, DIVISIONAL FACTORY INSPECTOR, LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

USE OF FIRE BANNED IN COUNTRY PARK AND NATURE RESERVE

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A TOTAL BAN ON THE USE OF FIRES FOR ANY PURPOSE WILL BE IMPOSED IN ONE COUNTRY PARK AND A NATURE RESERVE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM SUNDAY (DECEMBER 20).

THE BAN WILL BE APPLIED TO THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND WILL EXTEND OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS UNLESS THE WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY SAID THE BAN WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE PREVAILING DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS.

+THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL FOR 38 DAYS NOVEMBER 10.

*E

THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE ARE TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WOODLANDS AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FIRES, HE SAID.

A NUMBER OF FIRES HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED IN THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK DURING THE CURRENT FIRE SEASON.

WHILE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN STILL VISIT THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE WHEN THE BAN IS IN FORCE, THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIGHT FIRES IN THESE AREAS.

FOOD.

VISITORS SHOULD TAKE WITH THEM SANDWICHES AND PRE-COOKED

+ THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY REGRETS ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT MAY BE CAUSED, BUT NO ONE SHOULD UNDERESTIMATE THE VULNERABILITY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE TO FIRES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

FIRE IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST THREAT TO COUNTRY PARKS.

HE ALSO ASKED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM SMOKING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND TO BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL WITH FIRES DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

+ONLY BARBECUE IN APPROVED BARBECUE PLACES, HE STRESSED. THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR ILLEGAL USE OF FIRES INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS IS $5 000, WHILE THE ILLEGAL USE OF FIRES ANYWHERE ELSE IN TH. COUNTRYSIDE BUT OUTSIDE COUNTRY PARKS CAN RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000.

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