XN000022-1979-08-13 — Page 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1979

BIG CUTS IN GOVT ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

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REPORTS FROM 32 HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS REVEAL AN AVERAGE SAVING OF ABOUT 20 PER CENT IN UNITS OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMED IN JUNE COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTH IN 1978, IT WAS REVEALED TODAY (MONDAY).

THE TREASURY TOPS THE SAVINGS LIST WITH A HUGE 43.7 PER CENT CUTBACK AT ITS KOWLOON CITY SUB-OFFICE.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT RUNS A CLOSE SECOND WITH OVERALL SAVINGS OF 31.5 PER CENT, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WHICH NOTCHED UP SAVINGS OF NEARLY 30 PER CENT.

DEPARTMENTS WHICH RECORDED SAVINGS AT AROUND THE 20 PER CENT MARK INCLUDED THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, THE REGISTRAR'S CHAMBERS AT THE SUPREME COURT, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE SAVINGS HAVE BEEN MADE IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ENERGY CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN.

+EVEN IN DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY WHICH IS USING MORE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THIS YEAR THAN IN 1978, SAVINGS OF NEARLY 20 PER CENT WERE ACHIEVED,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THE GREATER PART OF THE SAVING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY SWITCHING OFF UNNECESSARY LIGHTING AND REDUCING THE INTENSITY AND USE OF AIR CONDITIONING, HE SAID.

DEPARTMENTAL ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IS CLOSELY MONITORED

BY SPECIALLY APPOINTED ENERGY WARDENS.

→IN VIEW OF CONTINUING UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT OIL SUPPLIES WE HOPE GOVERNMENT STAFF WILL MAINTAIN THEIR VIGILANCE IN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SAVE FUEL AND THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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