XN000022-1982-04-09 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1982

PUBLIC URGED TO HELP KEEP COUNTRY PARKS CLEAN

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS STRENGTHENED ITS COUNTRY PARKS MANPOWER RESOURCES TO RID LITTER FROM HONG KONG'S SCENIC ATTRACTIONS AND HAS CALLED FOR A CONCERTED PUBLIC EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE PARKS REMAIN CLEAN AND TIDY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT ALSO WARNED THAT LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST PERSISTENT LITTERBUGS WHO IGNORE THE ADVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF.

HE POINTED OUT THAT LAST YEAR 107 PEOPLE WERE PROSECUTED FO LITTERING IN COUNTRY PARKS.

AT PRESENT MORE THAN 300 STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT COMPRISING MANY RANKS ARE EMPOWERED TO ISSUE PROSECUTION NOTICES AGAINST OFFENDERS.

ANYONE CAUGHT LITTERING INSIDE A COUNTRY PARK IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000 AND THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT ON CONVICTION.

+WE FEEL THAT A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS BEEN GIVEN IN THE PAST, AND THE TIME HAS COME FOR MORE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

EVERY WEEKEND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR SPECIAL ANTI-LITTER TEAMS PATROL POPULAR PICNIC SPOTS ENDEAVOUR ING TO ENSURE THAT NOT A SHRED OF LITTER IS DISCARDED INDISCRIMINATELY BY PICNICKERS,

ATTENTION IS ALSO PAID TO THE OTHER AREAS.

LITTER, HE SAID, IS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT PROBLEM IN COUNTRY PARKS AFTER FIRE WITH ABOUT 3 000 TONNES OF LITTER COLLECTED BY THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.

ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MANPOWER RESOURCES ARE DEPLOYED TO KEEP THE PARKS CLEAN AT A COST OF ABOUT $3 MILLION YEARLY, HE SAID.

THE SYSTEM PROVIDES FOR ABOUT 5 000 LITTER BINS INSIDE THE PARKS WHERE LITTER IN POLYTHENE BAGS ARE CONVEYED TO COLLECTION POINTS BY AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR DISPOSAL BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

IN MORE REMOTE AREAS LITTER IS INCINERATED LOCALLY.

APART FROM LITTER BINS, TIMBER LITTER STOCKADES ARE ALSO PROVIDED IN SOME PARKS TO STEM THE PROBLEM OF LITTER OVERFLOWING THE BINS PROVIDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT TO COINCIDE WITH THE CURRENT CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN CLEANING WORK IN COUNTRY PARKS IS BEING STEPPED UP WITH MORE CASUAL WORKERING EMPLOYED FOR SUCH WORK.

/WHILE THE