XN000022-1982-12-22 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1982

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MEASURES TO REDUCE SQUATTER FIRES EXTENDED

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THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS PROGRESSIVELY EXTENDING ITS PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE SAFETY MEASURES IN SQUATTER AREAS TO REDUCE FIRE RISKS.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED IN THE LARGE SQUATTER CONCENTRATIONS IN SAU MAU PING, LAM TIN AND CHEUNG LUNG TIN WHERE FIRE BREAKS AND IMPROVED ACCESS AND WATER SUPPLIES FOR FIGHTING HAD BEEN PROVIDED.

THE PROGRAMME WAS NOW BEING EXTENDED TO OTHER VULNERABLE AREAS.

MR LIAO SAID THAT DURING THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS 30 ADDITIONAL SCHEMES HAD ALSO BEEN COMPLETED TO PROVIDE LEGAL SUPPLIES OF ELECTRICITY TO ESTABLISHED SQUATTER AREAS.

THIS BROUGHT TO 96 THE NUMBER OF SUCH SCHEMES COMPLETED AND WOULD ALSO HELP TO REDUCE FIRE RISKS AS ILLEGAL TAPPING IN THE PAST TENDED TO CAUSE FIRES.

+WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUCH SUPPLIES WHEREVER

PRACTICABLE, HE SAID.

MR LIAO ALSO NOTED THAT FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING SERIES OF FIRES IN SQUATTER AREAS LAST WINTER, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES HAD MOUNTED A FIRE PREVENTION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY AT RESIDENTS OF SQUATTER AREAS.

+AT THE SAME TIME, CONTINUED EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENCOURAGE THE FORMATION OF LOCAL FIRE WATCH TEAMS, WHOSE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS PLAY A VITAL PART BOTH IN STIMULATING AN AWARENESS AMONG RESIDENTS OF THE DANGER OF FIRES AND AS A FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE WHEN FIRES OCCUR,+ HE ADDED.

MORE THAN 140 SUCH TEAMS HAD ALREADY BEEN ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICES WITH THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

FACILITIES FOR HELICOPTERS INCREASED

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THE DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM INCREASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES LED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE USE OF HELICOPTERS FOR THE URGENT TRANSFER OF PATIENTS TO HOSPITAL EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY.

+AS A RESULT, SINCE OCTOBER 5, FACILITIES FOR THIS SERVICE HAVE BEEN INCREASED. LANDING SITES ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES INCLUDING THE NEW TOWNS FOR THIS PURPOSE.+ HE SAID, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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