XN000022-1976-06-04 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1976

PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH DUAL TIME SYSTEM

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A BILL HAS BEEN PUBLISHED TODAY WHICH IF PASSED WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF ABOLISHING THE DUAL TIME SYSTEM IN HONG KONG AND RETAINING PERMANENTLY THE PRESENT SUMMER TIME.

THE ONE-TIME SYSTEM WOULD BE KNOWN AS +HONG KONG TIME+ AND WOULD BE NINE HOURS AHEAD OF GREENWICH MEAN TIME (GMT).

THE BILL WILL NOT BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC PLENTY OF TIME TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSAL.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT A PERMANENT TIME SYSTEM WAS NOW BEING PROPOSED BECAUSE OF AN APPARENT STRONG PREFERENCE FOR IT FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. IT WOULD ALSO BRING HONG KONG IN LINE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE ALREADY ON A FIXED TIME SYSTEM.

ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSED PERMANENT TIME SYSTEM WOULD RESULT IN DARKER MORNINGS DURING THE WINTER, TAKING THE MORNINGS AND THE EVENINGS TOGETHER FAR FEWER JOURNEYS WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE DARK, AS THE DARKER MORNINGS WOULD BE OFFSET BY LIGHTER EVENINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INSTEAD OF ONLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AS AT PRESENT.

UNDER THE +GMT PLUS 9+ SYSTEM, THOSE FACTORY WORKERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO LEAVE HOME AT 7.30 A.M. IN. THE MORNING, THAT IS APPROXIMATELY THE LATEST TIME WHEN DAWN BREAKS IN THE WINTER MONTHS, WILL EXPERIENCE DARK MORNINGS FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THOSE PEOPLE ARRIVING HOME BEFORE 7 P.M. IN THE EVENING WILL TRAVEL IN DAYLIGHT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AS FAR AS STUDENTS ARE CONCERNED, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER SYMPATHETICALLY REQUESTS FROM SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FOR AN ADJUSTMENT OF SCHOOL HOURS TO MINIMISE TRAVELLING TO SCHOOL IN THE DARK.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO DISTINCT ADVANTAGES IN RETAINING THE PRESENT TIME SYSTEM AS A PERMANENT ONE. THE FIRST OF THESE IS THAT PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO ADJUST THEIR CLOCKS AGAIN THUS AVOIDING ANY INCONVENIENCE.

THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT IT MAKES MAXIMUM USE OF DAYLIGHT AND THE EXTRA HOURS WILL ALLOW MORE TIME FOR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE EVENINGS PARTICULARLY IN THE FINE WEATHER THAT HONG KONG NORMALLY EXPERIENCES DURING THE WINTER.

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