The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today called on voters to exercise their rights and obligations as a citizen and cast their vote at the first Legislative Council election of the HKSAR in May.

Speaking at the spring reception held by the Home Affairs Bureau, Mr Tung also encouraged residents to take an active part in fire prevention and in improving environmental hygiene.

Mr Tung said : "The year 1998 is an important year for Hong Kong. In May, we shall be holding our first Legislative Council election since our reunification with the motherland. This election is not only testimony to the progressive development of Hong Kong's political system, but also an opportune moment for us to demonstrate to the whole world that we are fully committed to implementing successfully the concept of 'Hong Kong people running Hong Kong'.

"I hope that you will all keep up the enthusiasm and vigour that have motivated you in the recent voter registration exercise and devote your efforts, through your connections with a wide cross-section of the community, to raising the awareness of Hong Kong citizens as to their rights and obligations and encouraging them to turn up at the polls."

On fire prevention, Mr Tung said that it was the responsibility of the owners and tenants of the buildings, as well as of the Government, to ensure that there would not be a repeat of the fires that could have been prevented in the first place, and to do our utmost to minimise the casualties.

"In the interests of the general public, I would like to call on the community leaders to promote fire prevention campaigns in your districts so as to instil into everyone in your neighbourhood and all your friends an awareness of the importance of fire prevention, and to spare no efforts in taking precautions for the sake of yourselves, your families and your neighbours," he said.

"The Government will also expedite the implementation of the series of fire prevention measures announced recently. In the long run, accelerating the redevelopment of the obsolete areas is the ultimate solution," he added.

The Chief Executive noted that the rapid growth of Hong Kong's population and development of our economy over the years had given rise to a number of public health problems.

"The recent cases of 'bird flu' and cholera underline the need for the community and the Government to be on the alert at all times, and pay attention to personal and environmental hygiene, so that all of us can have a clean environment to work and live in.

"The Government will, through civic education, encourage people to start with attending to their personal hygiene and health, and then participate actively in other city-cleaning activities," he said.

Mr Tung said that the Government was concerned about the safety of the public. "Hong Kong is not only a modernised city, but also a caring society. Let us work hand in hand to increase our awareness of the importance of fire prevention and hygiene, and unite our efforts to remove the potential hazards, so that Hong Kong will become a safer and cleaner modern metropolis," he said.