天 |香港政府
GIS 新聞處
MONDAY, JULY 1, 1974.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
WORLD IS BEGINNING TO TAP A HONG KONG LIQUID ASSET
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HONG KONG TENDS TO BE REGARDED, WITH REASON, AS AN IMPORTER OF TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS AND AS AN EXPORTER OF GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM THE EXPLOITATION OF THOSE SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES.
OVERALL, THIS PICTURE IS DOUBTLESS A TRUE ONE. BUT IN CERTAIN FIELDS HONG KONG IS NOW AN EXPORTER OF TECHNOLOGICAL IDEAS, EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE NO DIRECT OR IMMEDIATE CASH RETURN IN THE PROCESS. AND NOT THE LEAST OF THESE FIELDS IS WATER SUPPLY.
THE PROCESS TAKES THE FORM OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION - PARTICULARLY THROUGH VISITS BY FORE IGN EXPERTS WHO COME TO HONG KONG TO LEARN HOW A VERY SMALL TERRITORY CAN USE ITS INGENUITY TO SOLVE FORMIDABLE WATER PROBLEMS IN A WAY WHICH HAS ENABLED A 24-HOUR SUPPLY TO BE MAINTAINED FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
THE MAIN ITEMS ON THESE, VISITORS' ITINERARY ARE SUCH PLACES AND PROJECTS AS PLOVER COVE, HIGH ISLAND, THE SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS AND NOW THE DESALTER AT LOK ON PAI.
ALL OF THESE SCHEMES REPRESENT WORLD +FIRSTS+ IN ONE TECHNOLOGICAL SENSE OR ANOTHER. AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE STEADILY INCREASING NUMBERS OF ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM OVERSEAS WHO WANT TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW A RESERVOIR CAN BE CARVED OUT OF THE SEA, WHAT AN INTENSIVELY DEVELOPED HILLSIDE CONDUIT SYSTEM ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND, AND HOW ONE SETS ABOUT CONSTRUCTING THE LARGEST DESALTER IN THE A WORLD.
A SIMPLE COMPARISON ILLUSTRATES THE STORY. FIVE YEARS AGO, IN 1969, THE NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL VISITORS FROM ABROAD SHOUN AROUND BY WATERWORKS OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS, IN THE WORDS OF ONE ENGINEER, +A BARE HANDFUL+. IN CONTRAST, THE EIGHT MONTHS FROM NOVEMBER 1973 TO JUNE 1974 HAVE SEEN TOURS BY AT LEAST 17 OVERSEAS GROUPS.
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THE INFLOW OF VISITORS CAN AT TIMES REACH FA INTLY EMBARRASSING PROPORTIONS. MR. YOUNG AU-YOUNG, WATERWORKS OFFICE'S CHIEF RESIDENT ENGINEER AT THE DESALTER, COMMENTED RECENTLY: +IT'S A HIGHLY STIMULATING THING TO HAVE SO MANY PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES CALLING IN AT LOK ON PAI- BUT IT CAN GET A LITTLE DIFFICULT OCCASIONALLY TO FIT THEM ALL IN.
+IT'S A TWO-WAY PROCESS. OF COURSE. WE LEARN FROM THEM AND THEY LEARN FROM US, AND WE BOTH SHARPEN UP OUR IDEAS, REALLY FEEL PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL SCENE HERE.+
WE
THE GOVERNMENT
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel; 5-233191
PRH