XN000022-1996-11-23+24 — Page 9

- 8

FS's transcript

Following is the transcript of the media session by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, after meeting the Canadian Prime Minister in Manila today (Sunday):

Question: Just what came out of your talk specifically on the SAR passports with Canada?

Financial Secretary: I again emphasised our wish that the visa free access for Hong Kong residents, particularly for the SAR passports holders, will be given to them by Canada after July 1997. I got a very sympathetic hearing from Prime Minister Chretien. I am pretty confident that some good announcement will be made very shortly on this.

Question: Within this summit?

Financial Secretary: No. I don't want to be more specific on timing.

End

Fire safety in industrial premises

As both commerce and industry develop rapidly in Hong Kong, coupled with population growth, the chances of fire outbreaks also increase, the Director of Fire Services, Mr Peter Cheung, said today (Sunday).

Speaking at the launching of the fire prevention campaign, Mr Cheung said the tragic No.5 Alarm fire in Jordan proved that the nature of fires nowadays also became more complicated.

In the past two years, fire personnel attended about 60,000 fire calls and fires claimed a total of 64 lives and caused 1,131 injuries.

Among the casualties, about 10 per cent were injured in fires in industrial premises.

Mr Cheung said: "Most of the fires in industrial premises are caused by negligence and carelessness of people. Careless handling of dangerous goods is also another major cause of fire."