5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1977
IN
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+THE OBJECT OF THIS FINE NEW BOOKSHOP IS TO TEMPT YOU TO OFFER OUR THOUGHTS, PROBLEMS, CONCLUSIONS AND REPORTS. DAILY ATTENDANCE IN THE SHOP IS 25 PER CENT UP ON THE OLD ONE, SALES ARE UP 15 PER CENT, THIS IS JUST A BEGINNING.
+YOU HAVE READ ABOUT THE DEBATE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE REHABILITATION GREEN PAPER. HAVE YOU READ THE GREEN PAPER ITSELF? YOU CAN GET IT HERE. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGET. IT TOO WILL BE AVAILABLE BUT NOT BEFORE BUDGET DAY.
+THERE ARE 3,000 TITLES HERE AND EVEN HERE AT THE CENTRE OF OUR MARKETING EFFORT ON GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS WE ALSO SELL BOOKS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT HONG KONG. THERE ARE PUBLICATIONS BY INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AGENCIES AND, OF COURSE, OUR OWN URBAN COUNCIL. A FREE GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS IS AVAILABLE.
+HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF THE FREEDOM WITH WHICH NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS CAN BE PUBLISHED AND SOLD. THERE ARE FEW OTHER PLACES IN ASIA THAT CAN MAKE THE SAME CLAIM.
+ITS GOVERNMENT GOES TO GREAT PAINS TO RECORD ITS
WORKINGS FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
+WE WANT YOU TO READ AND I HOPE THIS FINE BOOKSHOP WILL TEMPT YOU.
+ IF IT LEADS TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT OR
IF IT LEADS TO MORE PURPOSEFUL CRITICISM OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING OR ARE FAILING TO DO IT WILL HAVE MADE A USEFUL CONTRIBUTION TO OPEN GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.+
LESS RAINFALL THIS YEAR
*****
THE COMING RAINY SEASON WILL BE DRIER THAN LAST YEAR'S, ACCORDING TO A PRELIMINARY FORECAST ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY.
RAINFALL FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER THIS YEAR IS FORECAST TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1450 MM AND 1850 MM, THE MID-POINT VALUE (1650 MM) OF WHICH IS ABOUT NINE PER CENT BELOW THE AVERAGE OF 1814 MM.
FOR THE YEAR AS A WHOLE, RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 10 PER CENT BELOW AVERAGE.
LAST YEAR, DURING THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD FROM MAY TO OCTOBER, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY RECORDED A TOTAL OF 2048 MM OF RAINFALL, WHICH IS 13 PER CENT ABOVE NORMAL.
FORECAST FIGURES FOR THIS YEAR WILL BE UPDATED IN MAY WHEN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.