I REFER to a letter from Bradley Winterton (South China Morning Post, January 16), concerning the hill fire in Lantau on December 28, of last year.
The hill fire mentioned by Mr Winterton broke out in Mui Wo in the late afternoon of December 27; it then spread to Yi Tung Shan and Sunset Peak.
Regarding open fire activities by the hut campers, this department had discussions with Michael Weber, the Chairman of the Lantau Mountain Camp Association, who clarified on July 4, 1994, that they had kitchen facilities in every hut and would not have outdoor barbecues, especially in cold and windy season evenings.
However, he agreed to remind the campers to refrain from using open fires.
Since the area is outside Lantau Country Park, we have no plan to provide barbecue facilities there.
T.W. CHAN for Director of Agriculture and Fisheries
