MR.
CHEONG-LEEN : Sir, when will the
preliminary
assessment of public opinion be completed by CNTA?
And,
apart from the factor which has just been mentioned by the
Chief Secretary, what
what other important factors would make
Government decide to take the matter further?
extra
preliminary
CHIEF SECRETARY : Sir, I think that the
assessment will take about another month and at the end of
that period there will have to be another decision as to
whether we are going to take matters further. There are a
large number of advantages and disadvantages of summer
time. The advantages are of course that it does provide
hours light for people who are anxious for
recreation in the
the evening and there is said to be some
fuel saving as I have described. I understand from my
friends on the Urban Council that there would be
considerable saving on the parks which they operate
because of the need to cut down on lighting in the
evenings at a time when parks are used quite frequently.
On the disadvantages, of course it is troublesome to
adjust clocks twice a year. Some people, as Members have
suggested, do like to get up early, even before 6 o'clock,
and take their exercise and that would have to be in the
dark. And for people living in crowded conditions it is a
fact that earlier sunset brings relief from the summer
heat. And so these are just some of the factors that will
There are many more, Sir.
be taken into account.