XN000022-1980-06-19 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1980

QUICKER REPLIES TO WATER ENQUIRIES

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THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS IMPROVING ITS CONSUMER ENQUIRY TELEPHONE SERVICE BY PROVIDING MORE HOTLINES+ TO COPE WITH INCREASING DEMAND FOR HELP BY CONSUMERS.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, SAID THAT STARTING TOMORROW THE NUMBER OF +HOTLINES+ WOULD BE INCREASED FROM THREE TO FIVE.

THE FIVE TELEPHONE LINES OF THE ENQUIRY NUMBER 5-7900222 ARE EQUIPPED WITH A +HUNTING FACILITY+ WHICH CONNECTS CALLS QUICKLY AND CUTS WAITING TIME,

MR TOMLINSON SAID THAT THE ENQUIRY TELEPHONE SERVICE FORMED PART OF A TWO-YEAR DEVELOPMENT SCHEME BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO FURTHER IMPROVE SERVICES TO ITS 950 000 REGISTERED CONSUMERS.

UNDER THE PLAN, ALL WATER ACCOUNTS ARE TO BE COMPUTERISED BY JUNE NEXT YEAR AND MORE CONSUMER ENQUIRY COUNTERS WILL BE SET UP.

MR TOMLINSON POINTED OUT THAT THE CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRE AT LEIGHTON CENTRE HANDLED A TOTAL OF 133 596 CASES DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING MAY THIS YEAR.

OF THESE, 59 256 CASES OR 44.3 PER CENT WERE DEALT WITH BY THE ENQUIRY TELEPHONE SERVICE.

+THE ENQUIRIES CONCERNED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HIGH CONSUMPTION, CHANGE OF CONSUMERSHIP AND MAILING ADDRESS, REQUEST FOR DUPLICATE WATER ACCOUNT, DISCONNECTION OF WATER SUPPLY AND WATER DEPOSIT, HE ADDED.

MR TOMLINSON URGED CONSUMERS TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE TELEPHONE AND COUNTER SERVICES SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE IR WATER ACCOUNTS AND WATER SUPPLIES.

THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM 8.15 AM TO 12.30 PM AND FROM 1.30 PM TO 4.45 PM ON WEEKDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS.

IN ADDITION, ROUND-THE-CLOCK FAULT REPORTING AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT FIVE TECHNICAL COMPLAINTS CENTRES STRATEGICALLY LOCATED ON HONG KONG ISLAND, IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THESE CENTRES ARE 5-726311 (HONG KONG ISLAND) = 3-960210 AND 3-960219 (KOWLOON) (BETWEEN 8.30 AM AND 10 PM DAILY) OR 3-948261 (OUTSIDE THESE HOURS) - 12-900322 (FANLING) 12-662368 (TAI PO) AND 12-762626 (YUEN LONG).

TODAY, ON THE EVE OF INTRODUCTION OF ADDITIONAL LINES,

MR TOMLINSON PAID A VISIT TO THE CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRE AT LEIGHTON CENTRE TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE NEWLY INSTALLED EQUIPMENT. HE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO CONSUMERS ABOUT THE IR PROBLEMS.

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