WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
3
MR. JONES EXPLAINED THAT THE THINKING BEHIND THE WHITE PAPER WAS DISTILLED FROM THE RESULTS OF A WHOLE SERIES OF STUDIES OF HONG KONG'S TRANSPORT SYSTEM, STARTING IN THE MID-1960'S AND CULMINATING IN THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY PUBLISHED AT THE END OF 1976. WORK WAS CONTINUING TO
IMPROVE AND EXPAND ON THESE STUDIES.
+THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT ITS TRANSPORT POLICIES ARE ON THE RIGHT LINES AND ARE APPROPRIATE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG.
IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROAD NETWORK AND IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
+BUT, WITH AN EXPANDING ECONOMY AND GROWING POPULATION, THIS IS A GAME IN WHICH ONE HAS TO RUN HARD TO STAY IN THE SAME PLACE. SO WE WILL NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE GROWTH OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS, TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION WHERE POSSIBLE BY MORE SOPHISTICATED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES BUT, IN THE LAST RESORT, TO PLACE THE APPROPRIATE CONSTRAINTS ON THE LESS EFFICIENT USERS OF ROAD SPACE.
+TO MAINTAIN THE EASE OF MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS IN HONG KONG WILL INVOLVE A CONTINUING BATTLE, BUT IT IS A BATTLE THAT MUST BE WON TO HELP SUSTAIN THE STRENGTH OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, MR. JONES CONCLUDED.
FUEL SAVING MEASURES APPROVED ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED AS PART OF A MAJOR EFFORT TO SAVE FUEL, THE OIL (CONSERVATION AND CONTROL) BILL 1979, WHICH RESTRICTS THE USE OF ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR ADVERTISING, DISPLAY OR FLOODLIGHTING.
THE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (GMT PLUS NINE) FOR FIVE MONTHS.
SPEAKING IN THE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID THE SELECTIVE BAN ON THE USE OF ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR ADVERTISING, DISPLAY AND FLOODLIGHTING, EXCEPT BETWEEN 8 P.M. AND 11.30 P.M., WOULD COME INTO FORCE-ON SUNDAY (MAY 13), TOGETHER WITH THE CHANGE TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF THESE MEASURES WOULD BE STEPPED UP TO EXHORT ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY TO SAVE FUEL THROUGH SAVING ELECTRICITY AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO SET AIR-CONDITIONING THERMOSTATS AT NO LOWER THAN 26 DEGREES
CELSIUS.
IN ADDITION POWER COMPANIES WOULD BE ASKED TO PEDUCE THE IR SPINNING RESERVES.
DR. JEAFFRESON