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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has reminded people paying respects to their ancestors during the coming Chung Yeung Festival to keep the environment clean and dispose of used containers properly to prevent mosquito breeding.
The department will provide special cleaning services at public cemeteries and columbaria during the festival.
"Staff will be deployed to clear undergrowth, remove stagnant water in incense burners and empty containers, and level the ground surface to prevent accumulation of water," a department spokesman said today (October 11).
"We will deploy more manpower to remove rubbish, empty bottles and containers left by the public. Additional litter bins and toilet facilities will be provided.
"Public support and co-operation is essential. Before leaving, gravesweepers should clear stagnant water and rubbish. They should also not leave behind any containers such as vases, lunch boxes, plastic bags, empty drink cans and bottles, or buckets for burning incense to prevent accumulating stagnant water for mosquito breeding," he said.
In addition to on-site broadcasts, notices and banners appealing for public co-operation in preventing mosquito breeding will be displayed at public cemeteries and columbaria during the festival.
Managers of private cemeteries have also been advised to take similar anti-mosquito measures.
"As a precaution against mosquitoes, gravesweepers should wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers and apply insect repellent to exposed parts of their bodies," the spokesman said.
He also urged gravesweepers to take extra care when burning incense to prevent hillfires.
"Burning should only be done inside an incense burner or iron bucket and gravesweepers should put out all fires before leaving,"he said.
Officers from the department and Civil Aid Service will step up patrols in public cemeteries and columbaria to prevent hillfires. In the event of a hillfire, gravesweepers should remain calm and immediately notify the officers on site.
The spokesman also advised gravesweepers to make full use of public transport during the festival and pay attention to road closure arrangements in the vicinity of public cemeteries and columbaria. Access to Diamond Hill Crematorium, Cape Collinson Crematorium and Wo Hop Shek Cemetery will be closed to all vehicles, except those with special permission.
As a large number of people are expected to pay tribute to their ancestors on Chung Yeung Festival Day (October 19), burial services at Wo Hop Shek Cemetery and cremation services at Cape Collinson Crematorium and Diamond Hill Crematorium will be suspended on that day. Normal services will resume on October 20.
Ends/Thursday, October 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:54
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