XN000022-1977-05-23 — Page 2

MONDAY, MAY 23, 1977

WATER RESTRICTIONS ALMOST A CERTAINTY *******

HONG KONG IS STILL HEADED TOWARDS WATER RESTRICTIONS DESPITE THE RAINFALL OF THE PAST FEW DAYS, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER, MR. TOM TOMLINSON SAID TODAY.

+UNFORTUNATELY THE WEEKEND RAINFALL, UP TO 9 A.M. TODAY, ADDED LITTLE MORE THAN THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE DAY'S CONSUMPTION TO OUR RESERVOIRS,+ HE SAID.

+ THE YIELD WAS DISAPPOINTINGLY LOW.+

MR. TOMLINSON SAID THAT THE YIELD ON SATURDAY WAS 110 MILLION GALLONS, AND ON SUNDAY 179 MILLION GALLONS.

THE AMOUNT OF WATER IN STORAGE WAS NOW 31,108 MILLION GALLONS OR ONLY ABOUT 46.2 PER CENT OF TOTAL RESERVOIR CAPACITY.

+AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, OUR RESERVOIRS HELD 42,649 MILLION GALLONS -- OR 63.3 PER CENT OF TOTAL CAPACITY, MR. TOMLINSON SAID.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE P.W.D.'S DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. TUCKER, WARNED THAT UNLESS THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO IMPOSE LIMITED RESTRICTIONS ON SUPPLY IN ORDER TO CONSERVE WATER.

AT THE TIME MR. TUCKER INDICATED THAT THE INITIAL RESTRICTIONS WOULD APPLY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 P.M. AND 6 A.M., BUT THEY WOULD BE EXTENDED UNLESS THE SITUATION IMPROVED.

MR. TUCKER SAID TODAY THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE AT THE END OF THIS WEEK ON WHETHER OR NOT RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE BROUGHT INTO FORCE AS PREDICTED.

HE REPEATED HIS APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONSERVE WATER AND AVOID WASTE.

HE SAID INSTANCES OF WASTE COULD BE REPORTED AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT BY RINGING 5-726311 ON HONG KONG ISLAND, OR 3-948261 IN KOWLOON.

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