Over 40 firemen, personnel from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department are making efforts to put out mountain fires in Pat Sin Leng in Hong Kong's New Territories District.

Sources from the Government Flying Services told Xinhua Sunday that the department has sent two helicopters to extinguish the fire. Water bombing was also applied in the operation.

The fires, starting at around 6:00 PM Saturday, cover an area of four million square meters, local radio reports said.

In a separate development, firemen have put out two fires in Yuen Long, another part of New Territories Saturday night and early Sunday.

Local meteorological bureau has said that November is warmer and drier in Hong Kong as the mean minimum temperature was 21.1 degrees centigrade, the third highest for the month in Hong Kong history.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2004)