XN000022-1997-04-24 — Page 24

- 22

-

Speaking at a press conference on a public education campaign, Dr Malone said many of the 470-odd people killed in landslips in Hong Kong since 1948 could have been saved if adequate personal precautionary measures had been taken.

"In the 1970s, more than 20 people died in landslips every year on average. Anti-landslip measures introduced by the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) have since brought the fatality rate down to three per year," he said, adding that this was not good enough.

"The campaign, which aims to educate the public on ways to reduce exposure to risk when the Landslip Warning is in force, will help cut down the number of casualties even further," said Dr Malone.

"To drive home the safety message, GEO has, with the assistance of the Government Information Services, produced a 30-second publicity film for broadcast on television," he said.

"A bilingual pamphlet has been produced for free distribution at district offices to advise the public on personal precautionary measures to be taken," he said.

"The campaign will also include advertisements, seminars and exhibitions at popular shopping centres," he added.

Also speaking at the press conference, Government Geotechnical Engineer Mr Raymond Chan said the Royal Observatory, in consultation with GEO, would issue Landslip Warnings through radio and television every hour during persistent heavy rains.

"To enhance public alertness to landslip risk, a new Landslip Warning logo has been introduced. This new logo will be displayed on the TV screen when the Landslip Warning is in force, to remind members of the public to take precautionary measures," he said.

Mr Chan also explained various typical signs of landslip danger. These include landslip debris on roads and footpaths, falling objects, signs of soil erosion underway, serious overflow from catchpits or drains and flooding in hilly areas.

"When you notice these signs, keep away from the slope immediately, make a report to the Police or notify the property owner or manager," he said.

End