XN000022-1981-06-10 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 196 1

HOLIDAY TO MARK PRINCE CHARLES'S WEDDING

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THE WEDDING OF HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES IS A MOMENTOUS AND JOYFUL EVENT WHICH MERITS SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND OBSERVANCE IN HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF A BILL WHICH PRESCRIBES JULY 29, THE WEDDING DAY OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER, AS BOTH A GENERAL AND A STATUTORY HOLIDAY IN HONG KONG.

SIR JACK NOTED THAT THE PRINCE IS WELL-RESPECTED HERE AS HIS VISIT IN MARCH 1979 SHOWED.

+LARGE AND HAPPY CROWDS ATTENDED HIM EVERYWHERE AS HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY UNDERTOOK AN EXHAUSTING ITINERARY DURING WHICH HE SAW (AND MANIFESTLY APPRECIATED) MANY ASPECTS OF HONG KONG LIFE.

+THOSE WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM COULD NOT BUT BE IMPRESSED BY HIS CHARM AND HIS SINCERE CONCERN FOR THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS RECOGNISED THIS CONCERN AND RESPONDED WITH RESPECT, LOYALTY AND AFFECTION, SIR JACK SAID.

TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS AND LADY DIANA VARIOUS FESTIVITIES ARE BEING PREPARED HERE INCLUDING A WEDDING PRESENT, A SET OF COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS AND TELEVISION COVERAGE OF THE CEREMONY.

SIR JACK NOTED THAT THE WEDDING DAY HAS BEEN DECLARED A HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. IN HONG KONG IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE WEDDING DAY SHOULD BE OBSERVED AS A GENERAL HOLIDAY FOR BANKS, SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND ALSO AS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF OTHER EMPLOYMENT. EMPLOYERS UNABLE TO GIVE THE IR EMPLOYEES A HOLIDAY ON JULY 29 WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

USE OF DESALTER DEPENDS ON SUMMER RAINFALL

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A DECISION ON WHETHER TO BRING THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT INTO FULL OPERATION DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF SUMMER RAINFALL, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR JACK STEAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG, MR STEAN SAID THE PRESENT PROPOSED PROGRAMME WAS FOR EACH OF THE SIX EVAPORATOR UNITS TO BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION IN TURN WITH A VIEW TO THE WHOLE PLANT BEING AVAILABLE FOR FULL OPERATION BY AUTUMN.

IF IT DID BECOME NECESSARY TO BRING THE PLANT INTO FULL OPERATION, THE MONTHLY RUNNING COST WOULD BE ABOUT $45 MILLION, MR STEAN SAID. THE OUTPUT AT FULL OPERATION WOULD PROVIDE A LITTLE OVER 10 PER CENT OF THE CURRENT DEMAND FOR FRESH WATER.

MR STEAN SAID THE CURRENT OPERATIONAL COST OF PRODUCING

1 000 GALLONS OF DESALTER WATER WAS $37.68.