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TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1992
UNDER THE LONG-TERM AGREEMENT, CHINA WOULD PROVIDE 600 MCM OF WATER TO HONG KONG BETWEEN MARCH THIS YEAR AND FEBRUARY 28, 1993.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, CHINA AGREED TO SUPPLY AN ADDITIONAL 105 MCM TO HONG KONG TO HELP AVOID AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO IMPOSE WATER RESTRICTIONS AT THAT TIME.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE WATER STORAGE LEVEL WAS CURRENTLY VERY HIGH BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY RAINFALL SINCE MARCH.
THE
A TOTAL OF 2.202 MILLIMETRES OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED BETWEEN JANUARY 1 TO JULY 13 THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS 199 PER CENT OF LONG-TERM AVERAGE AND 360 PER CENT OF LAST YEAR'S RECORD FOR THE PERIOD.
SAME
LAST
THE WATER STORAGE TODAY STOOD AT 469.9 MCM. THIS TIME YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 168.9 MCM,
28.8 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CAPACITY.
REPRESENTING
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TOYS SAFETY BILL UNDER CLOSE STUDY
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T.H. CHAU, ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECOND-READING DEBATE ON THE TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS SAFETY BILL WOULD BE RESUMED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PREFERABLY IN OCTOBER,
HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER MEETING TODAY
THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON THE BILL.
(TUESDAY) WITH
"WE TOLD THE GROUP THAT WE HAD RECEIVED LAST MINUTE REPRESENTATIONS FROM RETAILERS ON THE SAFETY STANDARD TO BE ADOPTED FOR TOYS UNDER THE BILL. HE SAID.
T
"WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THESE REPRESENTATIONS WERE MADE SO LATE IN THE DAY, WE HAD CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH RELEVANT GROUPS BOTH BEFORE THE DRAFTING OF THE BILL AND WHEN IT WAS BEING DRAFTED. THE BILL ITSELF WAS GAZETTED ON APRIL 10, 1992," HE SAID.
"WE REGRET VERY MUCH THEREFORE THAT THESE NOT REACH US UNTIL ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INTENDED TO GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THIS SESSION, THAT IS JULY 15 AND 16."
REPRESENTATIONS DID BILL. WAS ORIGINALLY AT THE LAST SITTING
"NEVERTHELESS WE CONSIDER THAT THESE REPRESENTATIONS HAVE RAISED IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH SHOULD BE FURTHER EXAMINED IN THE LIGHT OF THE BROADER INTEREST OF CONSUMERS, HE SAID.
"WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS DESIRABLE TO DELAY THE ENACTMENT OF BILL FOR A LIMITED PERIOD SO THAT WE MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ROOM FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT,' HE ADDED.
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