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In response to media enquiries about Tuen Mun District Office's emergency relief services to people affected by the recent district hill fire, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Department provided the following information:
"The Tuen Mun District Office had been on full alert and in close touch with the Fire Services and relevant departments to provide emergency relief services to those affected by the fire.
About 20 villagers were evacuated as advised by the Fire Services and Police when the hill fire spread to the vicinity of Yeung Siu Hang village about 10pm on January 1.
Arrangements were made by the District Office for the villagers to stay temporarily in a conference room at Shan King Community Hall as the Fire Services believed it would not take long to contain the fire near Yeung Siu Hang village.
Two liaison officers of the District Office, the Village Representative of Yeung Siu Hang village and two District Council members were at the scene to give assistance to the villagers. The Owners' Corporation of Shan King Estate provided drinks for the villagers.
About 11pm, the villagers were told by the Fire Services that they could return home. They all left the community hall by 11.30pm. The Village Representative and the District Council members both thanked the District Office for the emergency support.
About 1.50am this morning (January 3), the Fire Services informed the District Office that about 20 villagers of Tsing Shan Tsuen needed to be evacuated. Liaison officers of the District Office then asked the villagers via the Police if they wanted to temporarily stay in the Butterfly Bay Community Centre, Tuen Mun.
The liaison officers also contacted duty officers of the Social Welfare Department for supply of resources for the villagers. They also liaised with duty officers of the Butterfly Bay Community Centre to prepare for the resources that the villagers would need if they wanted to take refuge there overnight.
At 2.30am, the officers were told that the villagers did not need support services as they preferred to stay with relatives. With the Fire Services cancelling the Fire Danger Warning, all of the villagers returned to their homes."
Ends/Thursday, January 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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