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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1988
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON SUMMER TIME PROPOSAL
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON START SEEKING VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE MERITS OF A PROPOSAL TO ADOPT SUMMER TIME (GMT+9) IN HONG KONG.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR MIKE ROWSE, FOLLOWING A DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
MR ROWSE SAID THE CHIEF SECRETARY, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN JANUARY, HAD UNDERTAKEN то CONSULT THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DECIDE TO TAKE THE MATTER FURTHER.
"THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS CONSIDERED THE ISSUE AND DECIDED THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE PUT FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE A FINAL DECISION IS MADE, MR ROWSE SAID.
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CONSULTATIONS WILL START EARLY NEXT MONTH AND WILL CONTINUE FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL APPROACH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, SCHOOLS, TRANSPORT OPERATORS, POWER COMPANIES, AIRLINES, TRADE BODIES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES FOR THEIR VIEWS ON THE ISSUE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, FIRST FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, BEFORE THE END OF JULY.
IN A CONSULTATION PAPER SOON TO BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION AT THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE ADMINISTRATION OUTLINES THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INTRODUCING SUMMER TIME:
ADVANTAGES OF SUMMER TIME
(I)
(II)
(III)
THERE IS AN EXTRA HOUR OF DAYLIGHT IN THE EVENING WHEN CAN BE USED FOR WORK, LEISURE OR SPORTS;
IT
IT MAY HELP SAVE ELECTRICITY. FOR EXAMPLE, GMT+9 WAS INTRODUCED AS A FUEL ECONOMY MEASURE DURING THE LAST TWO OIL CRISES IN 1973 AND 1979. IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS COULD SAVE CONSIDERABLE SUMS EACH YEAR; AND
BY ADOPTING GMT+9 DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, HONG KONG WOULD MOVE IN LINE WITH MANY OTHER MAJOR COUNTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNITED STATES, EEC MEMBERS, AUSTRALIA AND CHINA. CROSS-BORDER TRANSPORT OPERATORS WOULD PROBABLY APPRECIATE THE CONVENIENCE OF MOVING INTO LINE WITH CHINA.
/DISADVANTAGES OF