XN000022-1983-11-18 — Page 4

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FRIDAI, YOVEMBER 18, 1983

+THE PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED IN SMOKE-FILLED STAIRCASES AND CORRIDORS BECAUSE SELF-CLOSING SMOKE-LOBBY DOORS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING HAD BEEN FIXED IN THE OPEN POSITION, ALLOWING SMOKE AND HEAT FROM THE FIRE TO FILL THE ESCAPE ROUTES, HE EXPLAINED.

ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE MR YIP YUK-LUN, DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND MR CHU CHAI-KUEN, SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

MR YIP POINTED OUT THAT OTHER COMMON CAUSES OF FACTORY FIRES INCLUDE THE OVERHEATING OF MOTORS AND MACHINERY DUE TO OVERLOAD I NG OR BAD MAINTENANCE; MISHANDLING OF CIGARETTE ENDS AND HOT ASHES 1; IMPROPER USE OF NAKED FLAME; AND THE CARELESS HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES.

+MOST OF THESE FIRES COULD BE PREVENTED IF FACTORY PROPRIETORS WOULD DO SOME FORWARD PLANNING ON FIRE SAFETY IN THEIR OWN FACTORIES,+ MR YIP SAID,

MR CHU SAID MANY SQUATTER FIRES ALSO RESULT FROM THE USE OF DEFECTIVE OR OVERLOADED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS,

SUCCESS SEEN FOR PRIVATELY-OPERATED ABATTOIR

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THE NEWLY-COMPLETED TSUEN WAN SLAUGHTERHOUSE WOULD SERVE TO SHOW TO OTHERS THAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE COULD BUILD AND MANAGE A FINANCIALLY VIABLE MEAT-SLAUGHTERING FACILITY IN HONG KONG TO REQUISITE STANDARDS, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, MR HEYWOOD TOLD THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS OFTEN UNDER PRESSURE TO HIVE OFF SOME OF ITS ACTIVITIES TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND THIS WAS CLEARLY ONE AREA IN WHICH, IF THEY COULD SUCCEED, THERE WAS SCOPE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

+THIS WOULD MEAN A SAVING TO THE TAXPAYER AS IT WILL AVOID THE VERY EXPENSIVE CAPITAL COST OF BUILDING MORE GOVERNMENT ABATTOIRS AND HELPS TO CONTAIN THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE – A MATTER OF CONCERN TO ALL, + HE CONTINUED.

MR HEYWOOD SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOME CONCERN THAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE A MODERN SLAUGHTER ING FACILITY AND MEET THE STRINGENT HEALTH AND HYGIENE STANDARDS.

HE SAID IT WAS A FACT THAT THESE STANDARDS WERE NOT BEING MET IN THE OLD SLAUGHTER HALLS IN THE PAST, AT MA TAU KOK AND KENNEDY TOWN, AND THIS WAS ONE REASON WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAD BUILT THE PRÉSENT-DAY ABATTOIRS IN THEIR PLACE.

/+I AM