XN000022-1984-01-30 — Page 7

MONDAY, JANUARI

1984

ANOTHER REQUIREMENT IS THAT A SCAFFOLD MUST BE INSPECTED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH BY A COMPETENT PERSON WHO SHOULD REPORT IN A PRESCRIBED FORM TO THE CONTRACTOR CONCERNED.

WHERE IT IS IMPRACTICABLE TO PROVIDE FENCING OR RAILINGS, SAFETY BELTS AND SAFETY NETS MUST BE PROVIDED.

A WORKER FAILING TO WEAR A SAFETY BELT PROVIDED AND WHO FAILS TO KEEP IT ATTACHED TO A SECURE ANCHORAGE WILL BE LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $10 000.

A NEW REGULATION HAS ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED TO PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF MECHANICAL EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT AT CONSTRUCTION SITES BY UNTRAINED AND PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS TO SEEK ADVICE FROM THE DIVISIONAL FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THEIR DISTRICTS ON DETAILS OF THE NEW REGULATIONS.

LITTER IS A BIG COUNTRY PARKS PROBLEM ****

LITTERING HAS BECOME A MAJOR MANAGEMENT PROBLEM IN HONG KONG'S COUNTRY PARKS, MR K.C. IU, SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER, OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY.

LAST YEAR, HE SAID, MORE THAN 3 600 TONNES OF LITTER ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF 10 PASSENGER FERRIES - WAS COLLECTED FROM 21 COUNTRY PARKS.

THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF 60 PER CENT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. IN 1980, SOME 2 300 TONNES OF LITTER WAS PICKED UP, HE POINTED OUT.

OF THE LITTER COLLECTED LAST YEAR ABOUT ONE-THIRD

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1 230 TONNES HAD BEEN THROWN ONTO THE GROUND.

OR

HE SAID THAT 1 356 PEOPLE WERE PROSECUTED LAST YEAR FOR LITTERING IN COUNTRY PARKS, AN OFFENCE THAT CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A $2 000 FINE AND THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

ANTICIPATING THE HUGE INFLUX INTO THE COUNTRY PARKS DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, MR IU URGED ALL VISITORS TO USE THE 5 000 LITTER BINS AND STOCKADES PROVIDED.

SPEAKING AT A RECENT COUNTRY PARKS BOARD MEETING,

MR HOWARD YOUNG, A MEMBER OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG STEERING COMMITTEE, NOTED THAT THE MOMENTUM OF PROSECUTION OF LITTER OFFENCES HAD BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE COUNTRY PARKS.

HE EMPHASISED THAT PROSECUTION WAS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN AND SERVED TO REMIND THE PUBLIC TO BE CONSCIOUS OF LITTER PROBLEMS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VISITING THE PARKS ARE ALSO URGED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT FIRE WHICH SHOULD BE LIT ONLY IN DESIGNATED BARBECUE SITES.