XN000022-1986-01-09 — Page 3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1986

HIGH FIRE RISK CLOSES COUNTRY PARKS

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THE TAI LAM, TAI MO SHAN, AND SHING MUN COUNTRY PARKS AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VISITORS FROM SATURDAY (JANUARY 11) BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY HIGH FIRE RISK IN THESE AREAS.

THE CLOSURE ORDER WAS MADE TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, WHO SAID THAT THE MOVE WAS REGRETTED BUT WAS NECESSARY IN THE INTEREST OF COUNTRY PARKS PROTECTION AND IN THE INTEREST OF VISITORS' SAFETY.

VISITORS TO THESE AREAS WILL BE ADVISED TO LEAVE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TOMORROW AS CLOSURE SIGNS ARE BEING ERECTED AT ENTRANCES TO THESE PARKS. +NO FIRE+ SIGNS WILL ALSO BE PUT UP AT BARBECUE SITES ON THE FRINGE OF AND INSIDE THESE PARK AREAS.

ALL OTHER COUNTRY PARKS WILL

WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BARBECUE.

REMAIN OPEN, BUT VISITORS THEY ARE ADVISED TO BRING

PRE-COOKED FOOD TO MINIMISE FIRE RISK,

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WARNED THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE TO LIGHT A FIRE IN A COUNTRY PARK OUTSIDE A DESIGNATED BARBECUE SITE. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS $5 000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT.

+ALSO ANYONE FOUND IN THESE AREAS AFTER THE CLOSURE ORDER HAD TAKEN EFFECT WILL BE PROSECUTED AND LIABLE TO A FINE OF $2 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS, HE SAID.

THE CLOSURE ORDER WILL REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, ADDING THAT SHOULD THE SITUATION REQUIRED, MORE COUNTRY PARKS WILL BE CLOSED.+

VISITING MP'S TO MEET PRESS ****

VISITING LABOUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, DR JOHN MAREK AND MR NORMAN HOGG, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON SATURDAY (JANUARY 11) AT 10.30 AM IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.