A suspected bottle of diesel has been found near the source of a fire which ripped through part of the Nam Sang Wai wetland area last week.
Two fires, affecting 12 hectares, broke out last Monday with three sources identified. The blaze lasted for 17 hours, before another fire broke out on Tuesday – around six hours later. It also had multiple starting points.
The Fire Service Department had said the fire was spreading quickly and passed the case on to the police to investigate.
A musician had said last week that he saw masked men acting suspiciously during the blaze. He reported it to lawmaker Roy Kwong and the police.
Kwong then received information from another member of the public last Saturday about the discovery of a white jerry can near one of the sources of the fire. It was thought to contain diesel.
Kwong said the person has reported it to the police and given a statement. The police has taken away the bottle for analysis.
“If the suspicious fire was started by people, the police have to find the arsonist as soon as possible to protect Nam Sang Wai,” Kwong said.
Kwong added there will be further action on Sunday to defend the wetland area in Yuen Long.
A small part of the land scorched belonged to the government. However, much of it belonged to Nam Sang Wai Development Company Limited, which is partially owned by property firm Henderson Land Development.
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Posted by 長春社 on Saturday, 17 March 2018
The company has also reported the case to the police, saying that the fire occurred under suspicious circumstances.
The Conservancy Association said the area was an important supply and resting spot for migratory birds. It said it has concerned about the development of Nam Sang Wai and urged the public to write to the government to oppose development plans which could harm the ecology of the wetland.
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