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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
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MR. JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT HAD GONE INTO THE WAY IN WHICH THE PRESENT MEASURES SHOULD BE APPLIED. AS A RESULT IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT ARCADES, WHERE EVEN DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE LIGHTING IS MOSTLY PROVIDED BY THE DISPLAY LIGHTS IN THE SHOP WINDOWS, SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE BAN.
SIMILAR EXCEPTIONS WOULD BE MADE IN OTHER CASES WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF OIL SUPPLIES, WHO IS CONCURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, CONSIDERED THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
*THE PUMPING OF WATER DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS IS A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ARRANGE, AND THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES IS CONSIDERING WITH THE POWER COMPANIES HOW THIS MIGHT BE DONE, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.
ILLUMINATED SIGNS INDICATING THE LOCATIONS OF HOSPITALS, REGISTERED DOCTORS, DENTISTS OR PHARMACISTS AND THE USE OF ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR TELEVISION OR CINEMA ADVERTISEMENTS WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE BAN.
MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT THE COMBINED PACKAGE OF FUEL SAVING MEASURES WOULD REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION IN HONG KONG BY ABOUT FIVE PER CENT OVER THE REMAINING EIGHT MONTHS OF THIS YEAR --
-- IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY.
MR. JEAFFRESON ADDED THAT GOVERNMENT WAS DOING EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAJOR OIL COMPANIES, TO MONITOR THE SUPPLY OF OIL TO HONG KONG,
HE STRESSED THAT ALL FUEL SAVING MEASURES, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, WOULD BE DISCONTINUED AS SOON AS THE PRESENT OIL SHORTAGE ENDED.
THE GOVERNMENT IS ITSELF TAKING THE LEAD IN ATTEMPTING TO BRING ABOUT FUEL ECONOMIES BY TURNING UP AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM THERMOSTATS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS TO 26 DEGREES CELSIUS, BY EXHORTING ALL STAFF TO AVOID THE UNNECESSARY USE OF ELECTRICITY, AND BY MONITORING THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT INDUSTRY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CURTAIL PRODUCTION AND HE EMPHASISED THAT UNLESS REAL SAVINGS ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE FIRST SET OF ECONOMY MEASURES MORE DRASTIC MANDATORY MEASURES MIGHT HAVE TO BE TAKEN IN THE FUTURE TO ENSURE THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOT AFFECTED.
THE OIL (CONSERVATION AND CONTROL) BILL 1979 DEALS WITH OIL CRISIS GENERALLY, NOT JUST THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE
PRESENT SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY. IT CONFERS UPON THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL POWERS TO REGULATE THE STORAGE, SUPPLY, ACQUISITION, DISPOSAL AND CONSUMPTION OF OIL AND THE SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY AND GAS.
JISC