XN000022-1986-08-10 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 1986

CONCERTED ACTION TO STEP UP HOME SAFETY

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IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1986, THERE WERE 51 FATAL HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS, WHICH GAVE AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT DEATHS A MONTH.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR JOHN CHAN, WHEN HE LAUNCHED THE HOME SAFETY CAMPAIGN TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE LOK FU SHOPPING CENTRE.

THE HIGH DEATH RATE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE TENDED TO THINK OF THE HOME AS A REFUGE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND BELIEVED THAT ACCIDENTS COULD NOT HAPPEN TO THEM, MR CHAN SAID.

+SUCH COMPLACENCY CAN TURN THE DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT INTO A VERITABLE MINEFIELD OF ACCIDENTS WAITING FOR VICTIMS, + HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT DANGERS LURKING IN THE HOME COULD BE MINIMISED OR EVEN REMOVED ENTIRELY THROUGH AWARENESS AND COMMONSENSE PRECAUTIONS.

THIS WAS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH ITS FIRST CONCERTED PUBLICITY EFFORT ON SUCH A BROAD SUBJECT AS SAFETY IN THE HOME.

+SOME ASPECTS OF HOME SAFETY HAVE FIGURED IN PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS; NOTABLY THE DANGER POSED BY INEFFICIENT GAS WATER HEATERS IN UNVENTILATED BATHROOMS, + MR CHAN SAID.

BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RISK FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO FOCUS PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THAT PARTICULAR HAZARD.

MR CHAN WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT IN ORDER TO TACKLE THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF HOUSEHOLD SAFETY, THE HOME SAFETY PROGRAMME WOULD HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT ON A PHASED BASIS.

+ IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CAMPAIGN, WE ARE FOCUSSING THE ATTENTION OF PARENTS ON THE PARTICULAR DANGERS TO YOUNG CHILDREN, HE SAID.

BUT IT MUST NOT BE ASSUMED THAT YOUNG CHILDREN WERE THE ONLY ONES AT RISK, AS INQUIRIES CONDUCTED BY THE CORONER'S COURT HAD REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS COULD STRIKE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

TO COINCIDE WITH THE LAUNCHING OF THE CAMPAIGN, A WEEK-LONG +HOME SAFETY EXHIBITION+ WAS OPENED. THIS ILLUSTRATES SOME OF THE MAJOR ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS IN THE AVERAGE HOME.

OTHER GUESTS OFFICIATING AT TODAY'S CEREMONY INCLUDED THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING (RADIO), MR SIMON LUN, WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MR LI SZE-BAY, MR LIU SHING-LI AND MR WONG CHUNG-CHUEN, AND MR HENRY FONG OF THE FONG SHU FOOK TONG FOUNDATION FUND WHICH SPONSORED THE PRODUCTION OF A HOME SAFETY BOOKLET.

/THE HOME