XN000022-1974-10-08 — Page 5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1974.

WATER CHIEF'S WARNING ON NEED FOR TOTAL EFFORT

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HONG KONG'S WATER-SAVING CAMPAIGN IS NOT A STRUGGLE THAT CAN BE WON BY THE FEW'', THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. BILL KNIGHT, SAID TODAY. A TOTAL EFFORT BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS NEEDED, HE SAID.

MR. KNIGHT TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF NORTH KOWLOON THAT IF ANYONE OPTED OUT OF THE STRUGGLE, THEN HE WOULD BE LIKE A CURSE'' ON THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, SINCE HIS INACTION WOULD INCREASE THE CHANCES OF TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS BEING NEEDED THAN THE FOUR-HOUR DAILY SUPPLY TO BE INTRODUCED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

HE WARNED THAT PEOPLE WASTING WATER COULD AND WOULD BE TAKEN TO COURT AND ADDED THAT INDUSTRIALISTS RECEIVING A 24-HOUR SUPPLY EITHER THROUGH DISPENSATION OR BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THEIR PREMISES WOULD BE EXPECTED TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT MEASURES THEY WERE TAKING TO SAVE LIKE THE REST OF US''.

HE NOTED THAT PEOPLE WERE TODAY FAR BETTER INFORMED ABOUT HONG KONG'S WATER SITUATION THAN THEY WERE AT THE TIME OF THE LAST RESTRICTIONS IN 1967. BUT THERE WERE A FEW ALARMING SIGNS'' OF A FAILURE TO RECOGNISE THAT EVERYONE HAD TO ''PITCH IN' TO ACHIEVE THE ESSENTIAL 25 PER CENT CUT IN CONSUMPTION.

GIVING EXAMPLES OF IGNORANT OR SELFISH'' ATTITUDES WHICH COULD ''MESS UP'' THE COMMUNAL EFFORT, MR. KNIGHT SAID: + IF AN INDUSTRIALIST OR BUSINESSMAN, JUST BECAUSE HIS PREMISES HAPPEN TO FALL WITHIN AN INDUSTRIAL-MANUFACTURING ZONE, TAKES THE ATTITUDE 'I'M ALL RIGHT, JACK - DAMN THE REST OF YOU'.

· AND MAKES NO EFFORT TO REDUCE HIS DEMAND FOR WATER LIKE THE REST OF US. THEN HE'S A CURSE ON THE COMMUNITY IN THAT HE IS INCREASING THE CHANCE THAT SEVERER RESTRICTIONS WILL BE NEEDED.

+ IF ANY INDUSTRIALIST CLAIMS EXEMPTION FROM THE RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT DETAILING HOW HE IS SAVING, OR IS PLANNING TO SAVE, HIMSELF, THEN HE IS SIMILARLY OPTING OUT OF THE COMMUNAL ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. THIS IS TRUE WHATEVER HIS LINE OF INDUSTRY IS - WHETHER IN MANUFACTURING, SERVICING OR COMMUNICATIONS.

+ IF ANY OWNER OR MANAGER OF A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING FAILS TO TURN OFF THE BUILDING'S STORAGE SUPPLIES AT THE PRESCRIBED HOURS, THEN HE ALSO IS SABOTAGING THE COMMUNAL EFFORT.

+ IF ANYONE USES A HOSEPIPE FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER, THEN HE IS ALMOST CERTAINLY WASTING MAINS WATER TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE PEOPLE. CANY USE OF A HOSEPIPE IS ILLEGAL, UNLESS AUTHORISED IN WRITING FOR PERIODS OF PLENTIFUL SUPPLY ONLY).+

AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS ADDRESS MR. KNIGHT POSED THE QUESTION WHETHER HONG KONG WOULD ACHIEVE THE TARGET OF A 25 PER CLNT REDUCTION OVER THE WINTER. THE ANSWER, HE SAID, WAS SIMPLE: +THERE IS NO QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SHALL ACHIEVE IT. WE'VE GOT TO ACHIEVE IT AND WE SHALL.

/HE ALSO