XN000022-1974-04-24 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1974

USE OF PRISON LABOUR EXPLAINED

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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TODAY RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF USING PRISON LABOUR FOR RAISING CROPS AND FOR LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY.

SUCH A PROGRAMME DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FEASIBLE AT THIS TIME, HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WILSON HANG. +THE RAISING OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK WOULD REQUIRE LARGE TRACTS OF ARABLE LAND, ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING AND PROPOSED MINIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. SUCH LAND IS NOT GENERALLY AVAILABLE, HE EXPLAINED. +AT CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS THE PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL STAFF WOULD ALSO PRESENT DIFFICULTIES.+

MR. DAVIES SAID THAT PRISON LABOUR IS USED WITHIN THE PROGRAMME OF THE FORESTRY DIVISION, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, AND FOR PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

NO WATER RATIONING THIS SUMMER

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HONG KONG'S PRESENT WATER STORAGE IS SATISFACTORY AND RESTRICTED SUPPLY IS NOT ANTICIPATED FOR THIS SUMMER, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, SAID TODAY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH RAINFALL FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WAS WELL BELOW AVERAGE, THE STORAGE POSITION ON APRIL 15 WAS 39,820 MILLION GALLONS, OR 59 PER CENT OF THE FULL CAPACITY.

THE ABNORMALLY HIGH RAINFALL LAST YEAR LEFT THE RESERVOIRS WITH A TOTAL STORAGE OF 65,513 MILLION GALLONS OR 97.3 PER CENT FULL AT THE START OF THE WINTER SEASON,

MR. MCDONALD REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE HON. WOO PAK-CHUEN WHO ASKED ABOUT THE VATER SUPPLY SITUATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RATIONING THIS SUMMER.

+THE PRESENT POSITION IS SATISFACTORY,+ MR. MCDONALD SAID, +AND UNLESS AN EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RAINFALL PATTERN IS EXPERIENCED +AND NO WATER SUPPLY RESTRICTIONS ARE ANTICIPATED THIS SUMMER ON ACCOUNT OF A SHORTAGE OF WATER RESOURCES.+

AS ALWAYS. HE ADDED, THE SITUATION WOULD BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW.

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