XN000022-1977-05-21 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1977

+ IN FACT EVEN GREATER VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED NOW TO AVOID WASTAGE. EVERY ONE HAS A PART TO PLAY. IT IS ONLY BY A TOTAL COMMUNITY EFFORT THAT THE THREAT OF SEVERE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE MINIMISED, HE SAID.

MR. TOMLINSON SAND STAFF OF THE P.W.D.'S WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ALERTED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO POSSIBLE LEAKAGES AND THE NEWLY EXPANDED PROSECUTIONS UNIT WAS STEPPING UP ITS ACTIVITIES TO CLAMP DOWN ON WATER WASTERS.

THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID, ALSO OPERATED REPORTING CENTRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR WHERE PEOPLE COULD REPORT INSTANCES OF WASTAGE OR LEAKS AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT SO THAT PROMPT ACTION COULD BE TAKEN,

THE NUMBER TO CALL ON HONG KONG ISLAND IS 5-726311, AND 3-948261 FOR KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MEANWHILE, VARIOUS OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO CONSERVE WATER AND AVOID WASTAGE.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY BEGUN A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE ITS TENANTS TO AVOID WASTAGE AND NOTICES AND POSTERS WERE BEING PUT UP AT ALL COMMUNAL WASH AREAS AND BATHROOMS IN OLDER ESTATES AS A FURTHER REMINDER TO RESIDENTS TO USE WATER SPARINGLY.

MAINTENANCE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE MAKING SYSTEMATIC CHECKS OF ALL COMMUNAL TAPS TO ENSURE THAT ANY DEFECTS WERE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY.

ESTATE STAFF WERE ALSO CONDUCTING FREQUENT PATROLS OF WASH AREAS TO EDUCATE TENANTS AND TO ENSURE THERE WAS NO WASTAGE OR ILLEGAL TAPPING.

THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO CUTTING DOWN ON CONSUMPTION OF MAINS WATER BY SWITCHING TO WELL AND STREAM WATER FOR WATERING OF PUBLIC GARDENS AND AMENITY AREAS, AS WELL AS FOR STREET WASHING.

MAINS WATER TO MODEL BOAT PONDS IN RECREATIONAL AREAS HAVE ALREADY BEEN STOPPED, AND ALL FOUNTAINS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTROL WILL STOP PLAYING FROM MAY 25.

CONTINGENCY PLANS HAVE ALSO BEEN DRAWN UP TO MOVE SEEDLINGS TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS FROM NURSERIES DEPENDING ON MAINS WATER TO NURSERIES WATERED FROM WELLS AND. STREAMS.

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