XN000022-1973-12-18 — Page 3

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Tuesday, December 18, 1973

DEPARTMENTS STEP UP FUEL-SAVING MEASURES

A number of government departments have taped over light and

power switches to prevent them from being used, in a positive move to

save fuel.

These measures, coupled with the removal of non-essential light

bulbs or fluorescent tubes from office and corridor lighting, are resulting

in substantial reductions in the amount of electricity consumed.

The Marine Department, the Medical and Health Department and the

Treasury are among the offices where these steps have been taken.

In a special circular, the Director of Medical and Health Services.

Dr. G.H. Choa said that economies in a medical service are not easy,

but they are possible "particularly in the consumption of electricity"

and he urged the staff to do all they could to meet a 15 to 20 per cent

cut back.

In Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary Hospitals, evening inspections

have been carried out during which bulbs were removed from non-essential

lights, and some other switches were turned off and taped over.

At Marine Department headquarters, about 20 per cent of the fluorescent

lights and 50 per cent of the electric light bulbs in the building and

the Seamen's Recruiting Office have been put out of action either by

removing the lights, taping over the switches or by shutting off the

electricity at the mains.

/Air-conditioning