XN000022-1974-05-07 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1974.

NEW OIL OFFICIALS STRESS NEED TO SAVE FUEL

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THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES. MR. DEREK JONES, TODAY APP ALED FULL CONTINUED VOLUNTARY SAVINGS IN THE USE OF ELECTRICITY.

MR. JU ES SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF FUEL OIL SUPPLIES TO HOL; KULG US UNGELAIN ENLJGH TO WARRANT THIS APPEAL.

+IF U ARE TO CET THROUGH THIS SUMMER WITHOUT REDUCING OUR STOCKS OF FUEL OIL 10 UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS WE HAVE ALL GOT TO CONTINUE SAVING,+ HE SLID.

MR. JONES WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT WHICH HE FORMALLY INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND MR. ALEC PURVES AS THE NEU CHAIRMAN OF THE OIL POLICY COMMITTEE AND THE ICU DIRECTOR OF OIL SUPPLIES RESPECTIVELY.

HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH PRESS REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE WORLD UIL SITUATION WAS LESS SERIOUS THAN IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL MOUTHS AGO, THIS WAS NOT SO FOR ALL COUNTRIES AD THE POSITION IN HONG KONG HAD NUT CHANGED INSOFAR AS FUEL OIL FOR THE POVER COMPANIES WAS CONCERNED.

LOOKING AT PAST PATTERNS OF CONSUMPTION, HE SAID THAT IN THE COMING SUMMER MONTHS HONG KONG'S ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION,. ALD CUNSEQUENTLY FUIL OIL CONSUMPTION, WOULD INCREASE BY MORE THAN 20 PER CENT, FIFTEEN PER CENT OF WHICH WAS DUE TO AIR-CONDITIONING.

+IT IS IN THIS AREA OF AIR CONDITIONING THAT I URGE THE PUBLIC TO MAKE AN EFFORT AT SAVING,+ MR. JONES SAID.

MR. JONES ANNOUNCED THAT A CARPAIGN WOULD BE LAUNCHED TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO BE MORE FUEL CONSCIOUS.

+THE CAMPAIGN, HE SAID, HILL STRESS THE NEED TO SAVE AND WILL, SUGGEST WAYS OF DOING THIS+.

HE SAID THAT BY TURNING DOWN AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT BY TWO DEGREES CENTIGRADE, FÜR EXAMPLE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO SAVE AS MUCH AS 15 PER CENT ON ELECTRICITY OR FUEL OIL CONSUMPTION.

+USEFUL ECONOMIES CAN ALSO BE MADE BY TURNING AIR-CONDITIONERS ON LATER AND SWITCHING THEN OFF EARLIER,+ MR. JONES ADDED.

HE WENT ON TO CONFIRM THAT THE GOVERNMENT UAS ENCOURAGING ALL ITS STAFF TO WEAR LIGHTER AND, IF DESIRED, LESS FURMAL, CLOTHES TO THE OFFICE SO AS TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR AIR-CONDITIONING.

HE HOPED COMMERCIAL FIRMS WOULD FOLLOW SUIT.

MR. JONES SAID THAT OTHER CAMPAIGN MATERIAL INCLUDED TUO PAMPHLETS WHICH WOULD BE SENT OUT TO DFFICES AND FACTORIES.

THESE CONTAIN USEFUL HINTS ON HOW EMPLOYERS CAN MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF MACHINERY AND OTHER EQUIPMENT IN THEIR FACTORIES AND OFFICES IN ORDER TO SAVE FUEL AND, IN THE PROCESS, MONEY. HE EMPHASISED THAT THE PAMPHLET FOR INDUSTRY WOULD CONTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TU SAVE ELECTRICITY WITHOUT AFFECTING PRODUCTION.

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