Wildfire drives 200 from homes

A mountain wildfire on Po Lo Shan in the New Territories area of Tuen Mun resulted in the temporary evacuation of more than 200 residents and Buddhist monks yesterday.

The fire, which started Tuesday afternoon, was under control by yesterday evening with the efforts of more than 200 firefighters and two water-dumping helicopters.

It was stopped near the top of a hill and reduced from three to two fronts by dusk.

The fire department said dry air and strong winds made it very hard to stop the spread of flames, which reduced 300 hectares of vegetation to cinder by 6:40pm. No injuries were reported by then.

Killer wild mushrooms feared

The Centre for Health Protection yesterday warned people not to eat wild mushrooms picked from the countryside.

The warning follows a suspected food-poisoning death involving a mainland woman who ate wild mushrooms in South Africa on December 27 and died at a Hong Kong hospital.

The 43-year-old woman came down with abdominal pain, diarrhea and a headache while on a flight to Hong Kong yesterday. She was taken to Queen Mary Hospital and later died of multiple-organ failure.

Her 44-year-old husband had similar symptoms and was listed yesterday in stable condition.

Heritage feedback sought

Secretary for Development Carrie Lam said a three-month publicity drive for heritage conservation will begin on January 15.

Lam told lawmakers yesterday that roving exhibitions will be held in the Heritage Discovery Centre and seven shopping centers until mid-March. Several historic buildings will be open to the public.

The Government will invite organizations to offer tours to help citizens learn more about the city's heritage. Applicants will also be invited to submit proposals on the old Tai Po Police Station, Lui Seng Chun, Lai Chi Kok Hospital, North Kowloon Magistracy, old Tai O Police Station, Fong Yuen Study Hall and Mei Ho House.

First frost brings pricey fruit

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) said yesterday it received reports of the first frost in the New Territories, three days after it issued early warnings of the current cold spell.

An HKO scientist said the urban areas recorded lows of 10.2 C the last two days, while frost was observed on grass in the hilly northern New Territories and on Lantau Island.

However, temperatures are expected to rise today and should reach 12 degrees this weekend, HKO added. Meanwhile, the cold weather drove vegetable prices up yesterday by 25 percent on average and over 40 percent in a few cases as supplies shrunk by 10 percent.

DTT broadcasting clearly

Digital terrestrial television (DTT) services have been operating smoothly since their December 31 launch, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority said yesterday.

Its hotline had received over 300 enquiries on DTT as of yesterday, most of which concerned coverage area and the use of set-top boxes.

The office's Assistant Director of Operations Danny Lau said the simulcast transmission of DTT and analog services has been satisfactory.

Noting only five calls concerned the reception quality of conventional analog TV, he said the DTT transmission should not affect reception of analog services.

Cable Car plaza planned

The government plans to spend HK$68 million to build a scenery plaza next to the Ngong Ping 360 cableway terminal on Lantau Island.

The plaza will occupy an area of 1.5 hectare and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau hopes it will form a new tourist hot spot to accompany the Po Lin Monastery and service facilities around the cableway terminal.

The construction plan also includes expansion and improvement of rain drainage and emergency exit systems. The project is expected to start in June or July and finish by the end of 2009.

China Daily

(HK Edition 01/03/2008 page1)