XN000022-1977-05-27 — Page 14

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1977

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HOTELS ASSOCIATION TO BRIEF VISITORS ON WATER SHORTAGE

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THE HONG KONG HOTELS ASSOCIATION HAS MET TO DISCUSS WHAT STEPS IT CAN TAKE TO ADVISE VISITORS ON THE WATER SITUATION AND TO REQUEST THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION.

IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, THE ASSOCIATION IS DRAWING UP A PUBLICITY PLAN WHICH WILL EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE WATER SHORTAGE AND SUGGEST WAYS IN WHICH HOTEL GUESTS CAN ECONOMISE ON THEIR CONSUMPTION.

COMMENTED MR. W.E. COLLARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION, +NATURALLY THE VISITORS ARE GOING TO BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY LEARN THAT HONG KONG IS BACK ON WATER RESTRICTIONS. THEY MIGHT EXPECT INCONVENIENCE IN OTHER, LESS DEVELOPED TOURIST CENTRES, BUT MOST OF THEM HAD GAINED THE IMPRESSION THAT HONG KONG CONQUERED ITS WATER PROBLEMS YEARS AGO.+

+HOWEVER, THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF GLOBAL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN RECENT YEARS HAS PREPARED THEM FOR ALMOST ANYTHING, WHEREVER THEY GO, AND THEY WILL QUICKLY APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO COPE WITH A VERY SEVERE DROUGHT THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY HONG KONG BUT MUCH OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION, +

+THE MAIN THING IS TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THEIR INTERESTS, THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO COPE WITH THIS SITUATION AS A UNITED COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY, AS VISITORS, CAN PLAY THEIR PART. +

PUBLICITY MATERIALS PROPOSED BY THE ASSOCIATION INCLUDE STICKERS FOR HOTEL BATHROOMS AND FOR GLASSWARE ON DINING TABLES, THE LATTER WILL EXPLAIN THAT WATER WILL ONLY BE SERVED TO DINERS ON REQUEST.

IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES IS PLANNING AN ILLUSTRATED LEAFLET OFFERING HELPFUL HINTS TO THE VISITORS ON WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER,

HOTEL GUESTS WILL BE ASKED TO ENSURE THAT THEY TURN OFF TAPS AFTER USE, NOT TO WASH, OR TO RINSE THEIR TEETH UNDER A RUNNING TAP, TO TAKE A SHOWER RATHER THAN A BATH AND TO ESTABLISH A ROUTINE WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE HOURS OF RESTRICTION DRAWN TO THEIR ATTENTION BY THE HOTEL MANAGEMENT.

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