XN000022-1982-05-04 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1982

16 HOURS OF WATER FROM TOMORROW

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WATER RESTRICTIONS WILL BE EASED FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HONG KONG WILL REVERT TO STAGE ONE RESTRICTIONS WITH A DAILY SUPPLY OF 16 HOURS FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM - THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THE RELAXATION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEASURES WHICH WERE TAKEN DURING THE WINTER MONTHS - THE IMPOSITION OF WATER RESTRICTIONS. THE OPERATION OF THE DESALTER AND THE INCREASED SUPPLY FROM CHINA - AND WHICH HAVE BEEN ENHANCED BY THE RECENT RAIN, HE EXPLAINED.

THE DECISION WAS REACHED AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PRESENT RESERVOIR STORAGE LEVEL, THE FAVOURABLE RAINFALL FORECAST AND THE CONTINUING WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA.

IN VIEW OF THE HIGH OPERATIONAL COST, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE USE OF THE DESALTER AS EARLY AS PRACTICABLE.

MR TOMLINSON EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT BY ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH THE DESALTER WOULD BE PUT INTO A STANDBY STATE.

+THE POSSIBILITY OF A COMPLETE LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS, WOULD DEPEND ON ADEQUATE STORAGE LEVELS BEING ACHIEVED, HE SAID.

HE WOULD REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE WATER SITUATION AT THE END OF JUNE.

+ IF HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPS AND THE STORAGE POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVES, AN EARLIER DECISION WILL BE SOUGHT TO LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS.

*ON THE CONTRARY, THERE MAY BE A NEED TO REACTIVATE THE DESALTER IN ORDER TO PREVENT A REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY, HE SAID.

MR TOMLINSON THANKED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR THE IR CO-OPERATION IN ACHIEVING THE TARGET SAVING OF ABOUT 20 PER CENT AND EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE ECONOMY IN THE USE OF WATER.

KCR KOWLOON TONG STATION OPENING

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THE KOWLOON TONG STATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WHICH IS AN INTERCHANGE STATION LINKING WITH THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, WILL BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON THURSDAY (MAY 6).

PRESS REPRESENTATIVES HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE VARIOUS FACILITIES AT THE NEW STATION TODAY WHEN THEY WERE CONDUCTED ON A TOUR OF THE INTERCHANGE COMPLEX.

A KCR SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE ADVANTAGES OF AN INTERCHANGE STATION WERE FORESEEN AT AN EARLY STAGE IN THE PLANNING OF THE KCR MODERNISATION AND ELECTRIFICATION.

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