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People paying respects to their ancestors during the Chung Yeung Festival are reminded to keep the environment clean and dispose of unused containers properly to prevent mosquito breeding.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will provide special cleaning services at public cemeteries and columbaria during the Chung Yeung Festival.
"Departmental officers will clear undergrowth, remove stagnant water in incense burners and containers, and level the ground surface to prevent accumulation of water," a department spokesman said.
"The department will also deploy more staff to remove rubbish, empty bottles and containers left by the public. Extra litter bins and toilet facilities will be provided.
"Before they leave the graves, grave sweepers should be co-operative and remove stagnant water and rubbish to prevent mosquito breeding.
"They should not leave behind any containers such as flower vases, lunch boxes, plastic bags, buckets for burning incense or drinks containers.
"As a precaution against mosquitoes, they should wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers and apply insect repellent to exposed parts of their bodies," he said.
In addition to anti-mosquito announcements, notices and banners appealing for public co-operation will be displayed at public cemeteries and columbaria during the festival.
Managers of private cemeteries have also been advised to take similar anti-mosquito precautions.
The spokesman also urged grave sweepers to take extra care when burning incense to prevent hill fires.
กกกก"Burning should only be done inside an incense burner or iron bucket and all fires must be put out before people leave the graves," he said.
Officers from the department and Civil Aid Service will step up patrols in public cemeteries and columbaria to prevent hill fires. In the event of a hill fire, grave sweepers should remain calm and immediately notify the officers on site.
The spokesman also reminded grave sweepers to make full use of public transport during the Chung Yeung 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 30), 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 31.
Ends/Thursday, October 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:35
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