SINGAPORE'S air quality started out good
                 yesterday morning but deteriorated as the day
                 advanced. The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index
                 (PSI) reading rose from 47 at 7 am yesterday to a
                 high of 69 by 7 pm.

                 The 24-hour PSI reading indicated that the overall air
                 quality was still in the moderate range.

                 The 24-hour reading taken at 4 pm yesterday was
                 60, compared to 57 on Friday and 52 on Thursday.
                 News of a growing number of forest fires in Sumatra
                 has sparked concern that Singapore might see a
                 return of the haze that plagued the region in 1997.

                 The Environment Ministry said early last week that
                 satellite pictures had shown a significant rise in the
                 number of hot spots in central Sumatra.

                       Adapted from The Straits Times, 12 Mar 2000.