XN000022-1987-05-01 — Page 13

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1987

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FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ORGANISING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

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APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD SPONSORSHIP ARE INVITED FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS FROM OCTOBER TO THE END OF DECEMBER.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, 39 TONK IN STREET, KOWLOON, AS WELL AS ITS SUB-OFFICES.

COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE OR SUB-OFFICES BEFORE JUNE 26.

THE VETTING SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE DISTRICT BOARD COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON AUGUST 13 TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS.

PUBLIC URGED TO REPORT WASP NESTS *****

THE PEST CONTROL OFFICER OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, MR G.W. CHAU, TODAY (FRIDAY) URGED THE PUBLIC TO MAKE EARLY REPORTS OF WASP NESTS NEAR THEIR HOUSES.

+THE MILD WINTER WE HAVE HAD MIGHT HAVE ALLOWED MANY YOUNG QUEEN WASPS TO SURVIVE AND TO START MORE NEW NESTS THIS YEAR,+ HE SAID.

WASP NESTS LAST ONLY ONE YEAR AND WERE BROUGHT TO DESTRUCTION BY THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, HE ADDED.

NEW NESTS ARE STARTED BY SURVIVING YOUNG QUEENS IN SPRING. BY SUMMER THE NESTS MAY REACH 30 CENTIMETRES IN DIAMETER WITH MORE THAN 10 000 WASPS INSIDE.

+AS NESTS ARE USUALLY POSITIONED HIGH UP IN TREES, WASPS DO NOT CAUSE MUCH NUISANCE. THEY WILL NOT ATTACK PEOPLE UNLESS PROVOKED. HOWEVER OCCASIONALLY WHEN THEY BUILD NESTS UNDER EAVES OR OTHER PLACES CLOSE TO HOUSES, THE LARGE NUMBER OF FLYING INSECTS MAY INCONVENIENCE RESIDENTS, HE EXPLAINED.

IN SUCH CASES, MR CHAU POINTED OUT, RESIDENTS SHOULD ASK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEM REMOVED.

REPORT CAN BE MADE TO THE NEAREST USD OR RSD DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE OFFICE OR BY TELEPHONING 5-8102555 FOR URBAN AREAS AND 3-678694 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MR CHAU ADDED HOWEVER THAT IT WAS EASIER TO DEAL WITH SMALL NESTS AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTICE TO MAKE REPORTS AS SOON AS NESTS ARE FOUND.

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