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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (September 13) appealed to the public to keep places clean and tidy and not to burn wax when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
A spokesman for the LCSD said that patrols would be stepped up at the department's venues including parks, public beaches and barbecue sites from September 21 to 23. On those three nights, about 1,000 staff would be deployed to take enforcement action against people involved in littering and wax-burning.
He said, "People should wrap and properly dispose of their rubbish in litter bins."
He stressed that littering offenders would be issued with a fixed penalty notice at a fine of $1,500 while those who burnt wax would be prosecuted.
"We call on people not to burn wax when celebrating the festival. They should not sprinkle or pour liquids onto hot wax, which might cause injuries or damage to property.
"People should not place lit candles on the ground and grass pitches of LCSD venues or on beaches. Metal cans or non-flammable containers should be used to collect melted wax for easy disposal into litter bins after the containers cool down," the spokesman said.
According to the Pleasure Grounds Regulation, no person shall, in any pleasure ground, melt or burn any wax; or sprinkle or pour any liquid onto any hot wax. According to the Bathing Beaches Regulation, no person shall, on any bathing beach, do any act which is likely to endanger or obstruct any other person using the beach; or damage, deface or pollute the beach or anything situated thereon. Any person who contravenes the above regulations and is convicted is liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and 14 days' imprisonment.
The spokesman said people could report wax burning cases at LCSD venues by calling the department's hotline 2414 5555 from 7pm to midnight between September 21 and 23. LCSD staff would then be deployed to the scene to take appropriate action.
Ends/Monday, September 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:31
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