XN000022-1977-06-22 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1977

+THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR INITIAL WITNESSES TO BE INVOLVED IN THE LITIGATION, HE ADDED.

MR. TOMLINSON SAID THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF RECENT COURT CASES INVOLVING WASTING WATER, STEALING WATER OR USING IT FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION.

+UNDER THE WATERWORKS ORDINANCE IT IS AN OFFENCE TO WASTE OR MISUSE WATER, HE SAID. IN ADDITION, ANY PERSON WHO, WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE WATER AUTHORITY, ALTERS, INTERFERES WITH, DAMAGES OR DESTROYS ANY PART OF THE WATERWORKS SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE WHICH, OF COURSE, INCLUDES TAMPERING WITH A SUPPLY TO BY-PASS GOVERNMENT METERS.

+ IT IS ALSO AN OFFENCE TO INSTALL DRAW-OFF POINTS IN, OR DRAW WATER FROM ANY PART OF THE INSIDE SERVICE TO USE IN PLACES SUCH AS GARDENS, LAWNS, PLAYGROUNDS, GARAGES OR CAR PARKS, WITHOUT THE PERMISSION IN WRITING OF THE WATER AUTHORITY.

+ANY PERSON WHO IS GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE UNDER THESE REGULATIONS WILL BE LIABLE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $2,000.+

MEANWHILE, THE RAIN WHICH FELL YESTERDAY DID LITTLE TO HELP AS WATER STORAGE IN HONG KONG'S RESERVOIRS CONTINUES TO FALL.

AT 9 A.M. TODAY, THE RESERVOIRS HAD ONLY 29,498 MILLION GALLONS OR 43.8 PER CENT OF THEIR TOTAL CAPACITY. AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR THE STORAGE WAS 53,262 MILLION GALLONS OR 79.1 PER CENT OF TOTAL CAPACITY.

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