XN000022-1977-06-26 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 1977

FURTHER CUTS IN CONCESSIONARY WATER SUPPLIES

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THE P.W.D.'S DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. WILLIAM TUCKER TODAY ANNOUNCED FURTHER CUTS IN CONCESSIONARY WATER SUPPLIES IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING SERIOUSNESS OF HONG KONG'S WATER STORAGE POSITION.

FROM TOMORROW:

* ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES WILL NOT BE WASHED WITH

FRESH WATER, NOR WILL ANY GOVERNMENT VEHICLE APART FROM THOSE WHICH REQUIRE CLEANING IN THE INTERESTS OF HYGIENE-

* AUTOMATIC CAR WASHERS WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE=

* THE DIRECT USE OF MAINS WATER FOR PRIVATE GARDENS WILL

BE BANNED.

MR. TUCKER SAID THAT BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION IN THE STORAGE POSITION, THESE CONCESSIONARY SUPPLIES COULD NO LONGER BE MAINTAINED.

DESPITE THE SHORTAGE, SOME CONCESSIONARY SUPPLIES WOULD BE CONTINUED FOR THE MOMENT, BUT MR. TUCKER WARNED THAT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WOULD BE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THESE CONCESSIONARY WATER USERS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO ABUSES,

INCLUDED IN THESE EXCEPTIONS ARE THE USE OF MAINS WATER FOR +TOPPING UP+ OF PUBLIC AND CLUB SWIMMING POOLS.

THE FILLING OR REFILLING OF ALL POOLS HAS ALREADY BEEN BANNED.

MAINS WATER MAY STILL BE USED FOR WASHING DOWN COMMON AREAS IN HOUSING ESTATES, BAZAARS AND MARKETS, BUT INCREASED EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS MAXIMUM ECONOMY IN THE USE OF WATER FOR THESE PURPOSES.

MR. TUCKER SAID THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO LAUNCH A LETTER CAMPAIGN AIMED AT ENCOURAGING BUILDING MANAGEMENTS TO HELP CONSERVE WATER AND AVOID WASTE.

MR. TUCKER SAID HIS DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY INTENSIFIED ITS EFFORTS TO AVOID WASTAGE, AND STAFF OF THE WATERWORKS WASTE DETECTION AND PROSECUTION UNITS WERE ON FULL ALERT TO CHECK ANY LEAKAGES IN THE MAINS AND TO CLAMP DOWN ON WATER WASTERS.

+WE HAVE ALSO SET UP +HOT LINES+ ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR TO WHICH PEOPLE CAN REPORT INSTANCES OF WASTAGE OR LEAKS AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT SO THAT PROMPT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN, HE SAID.

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