XN000022-1987-12-21 — Page 5

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1987

"THIS HAS BROUGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FIRES IN COUNTRY PARKS DURING THE CURRENT FIRE SEASON TO 106, WITH A DAMAGE TOLL OF MORE THAN 21,000 TREES AND 512 HECTARES OF GRASSLAND.

"VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF BASIC

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED, MR LAU SAID.

THESE MEASURES ARE:

* EXTINGUISH MATCHES AND CIGARETTE ENDS PROPERLY;

* LIGHT FIRES ONLY AT DESIGNATED BARBECUE PITS, OR BETTER

STILL, BRING PRE-COOKED FOOD; AND

* REPORT

ANY FIRE OUTBREAK TO THE NEAREST COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE OR CALL 999.

MR LAU SAID: "TO KEEP THE FIRE DAMAGE TO A MINIMUM, THE DEPARTMENT IS STEPPING UP PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHICH INCLUDE MORE FREQUENT PATROLS BY PARK WARDENS AND CIVIL AID SERVICES MEMBERS, AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF MORE AFD AND CAS PERSONNEL ON STANDBY DUTIES DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.

"IN ADDITION, A NUMBER

OF WATER

ΤΟ

TANKS HAVE BEEN BUILT AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTRY PARKS WITH LARGE PLANTATIONS FACILITATE FIRE FIGHTING OPERATION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE."

HE SAID THAT THE ONUS OF PREVENTING FIRE OUTBREAKS RESTED THE PUBLIC.

"I WOULD, THEREFORE, APPEAL TO THEM TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL AND MORE CIVIC-MINDED SO THAT EVERYONE FIRE-FREE FESTIVE SEASON, HE ADDED,

早午

MR LAU ADDED THAT ILLEGAL LIGHTING OF FIRES IN IS AN OFFENCE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 IMPRISONMENT.

WITH

CAREFUL, MORE CAN ENJOY A

COUNTRY PARKS AND ONE YEAR'S

SEMINAR ON EFFECTS OF HARMONISED SYSTEM

A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN ΤΟ THE TRADING SECTOR THE EFFECTS OF THE HARMONISED COMMODITY DESCRIPTION AND CODING SYSTEM (THE HARMONISED SYSTEM OR HS) WAS OPENED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR MICHAEL SZE, AT CITY HALL CONCERT HALL THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.

THE AIM OF THE SEMINAR IS TO EXPLAIN THE KEY CHANGES ARISING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HARMONISED SYSTEM FROM JANUARY 1,

1988, AND TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TRADING SECTOR ΤΟ RAISE QUESTIONS.

THE TWO-AND-A-HALF-HOUR