XN000022-1992-11-01 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1992

NEGLIGENCE TO BLAME FOR FIRES

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THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR LAM CHEK-YUEN, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT MORE THAN 65 PER CENT OF THE FIRES IN THE PAST THRER YEARS WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO HUMAN NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS.

SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO LAUNCH THIS YEAR'S FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN AT EDINBURGH PLACE IN CENTRAL, MR LAM SAID THE CAUSES INCLUDED CARELESS DISPOSAL OF CIGARETTE ENDS, MISHANDLING OF COOKING STUFF, AND FAILURE TO OBSERVE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

"SUCH LOSSES COULD BE AVOIDED IF DUE ATTENTION HAD BERN GIVEN TO DAILY ROUTINES AT HOME AND AT WORK, HE STRESSED.

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HE CITED TWO RECENT TYPICAL FIRES THAT WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SPARKED OFF BECAUSE OF HUMAN NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS.

A FOURTH ALARM FIRE BROKE OUT IN AN OFFICE UNDER EXTENSIVE RENOVATION

PEOPLE SIX IN INTERNATIONAL BUILDING IN AUGUST, INJURING AND FORCING MORE THAN 150 OCCUPANTS TO TAKE REFUGE ON THE ROOF.

A DOMESTIC FLAT IN MEI FOO SUN CHUEN THAT WAS ALSO UNDER RENOVATION CAUGHT FIRE IN SEPTEMBER, BRINGING NOT ONLY PROPERTY LOSSES BUT ALSO CLAIMING THE LIVES OF TWO WORKERS.

MR LAM SAID WHILE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE STEPPING UP FIRE PREVENTION PUBLICITY, CO-OPERATION FROM THE PUBLIC WAS VITAL TO PREVENT FIRE.

THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES HAS PRODUCED A SERIES POSTERS AND

HOME ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DRIVE MESSAGE.

OF

THE

1,011

AND

LAST YEAR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL VISITS, ORGANISED 372 LECTURES FOR ABOUT 18,000 STAFF MEMBERS OF HOTELS, HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS,

AND COMMERCIAL COMPLEXES

HOUSING STAGED SEVEN MOBILE EXHIBITIONS IN ESTATES.

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MR LAM CALLED ON RESIDENTS TO EXERCISE EXTRA CARE AT HOME AT WORK TO GUARD AGAINST FIRE,

AND

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