XN000022-1974-07-23 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1974.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE PAPER, WELCOME AS THEY ARE, UOULD COMMAND MORE ATTENTION IF THEY VERE BACKED BY REASONS AND IF THE COMMENTATORS DID THEIR +HOMEWORK+ BEFOREHAND.

THE COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS THE DETAILED REASONS ON WHICH A VIEW WAS BASED THAT VERE HORE IMPORTANT. AND TOO OFTEN, HE SAID, CRITICS AND COMMENTATORS SPOKE WITHOUT CHECKING THEIR FACTS AND SEEKING BACKCROUND INFORMATION.

FOR NEW TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SCHEMES, KR. WILSON SAID THE EXISTING PROCEDURE PUT THEM UNDER CLOSE SCRUTINY BY SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL HAVING A BRIGHT IDEA AND PUTTING IT INTO EFFECT WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE CONSEQUENCES.

EVERY SCHEME IS BASED ON FACTS AND FIGURES, USUALLY OBTAINED BY MEANS OF SPECIAL SURVEYS, HE SAID, BECAUSE SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS WHICH ARE NOT BACKED UP BY FACTUAL EVIDENCE DO NOT GET VERY FAR.

MR. WILSON ALSO EXPLAINED WHY THE PROPOSED DEMERIT POINTS SYSTEM FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC OFFENCES WAS DROPPED, BUT HE WARNED THAT THE POOR STANDARD OF DRIVING WAS LIKELY TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE MORE SENSIBLE MAJORITY MADE ITS VOICE HEARD AND INSISTED THAT FIRM MEASURES DE TAK N TO HAKE THE ROADS SAFER.

NOTE TO EDITORS: COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. WILSON'S

SPEECH ARE BOXED FOR COLLECTION.

WATER CUT ****

A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN YUEN LONG WILL BE WITHOUT WATER FOR FIVE HOURS AS FROM 1 A.M. ON THURSDAY CJULY 25) UHEN A TEST FOR LEAKAGE WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN THE AREA.

THE AFFECTED AREA IS COUNDED BY YUEN LONG MAIN ROAD, KAU YUK ROAD, AND FUNG CHEUNG STREET, INCLUDING YUEN LONG POLICE STATION.