XN000022-1982-09-18 — Page 5

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1982,

GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER RETIRES

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THE ACTING GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER (MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL), MR FREDERICK THOMAS, IS RETIRING AFTER 22 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

TO MARK THE OCCASION, THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, TODAY (SATURDAY) PRESENTED MR THOMAS WITH A VIDEO RECORDER FROM COLLEAGUES IN THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND OTHER WORKS DEPARTMENTS,

MR TOMLINSON SAID THAT THE PERIOD OF SERVICE OF MR THOMAS WAS MARKED BY A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR WATER IN HONG KONG WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT A CORRESPONDING EXPANSION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.

MR THOMAS, WHO WAS THE FIRST ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO SERVE IN THE DEPARTMENT, HAS BEEN PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL WORKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPANSION IN BOTH THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES,

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAJOR WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES INCLUDING THE PLOVER COVE AND HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR SCHEMES, INEVITABLY INVOLVED GREATER SOPHISTICATION IN EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTATION, AND EXTENSIVE TRAINING OF AN EXPANDING STAFF TO WHICH MR THOMAS MADE A CONSIDERABLE CONTRIBUTION.

HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE COMMISSIONING OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT WHICH, WHEN COMPLETED IN 1976, WAS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

MR THOMAS FIRST JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER IN THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE OF THE FORMER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN MAY 1960, TRANSFERRING TWO YEARS LATER TO THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WHERE HE HAS REMAINED SINCE.

HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER IN APRIL 1966 AND TO CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER IN APRIL 1971.

AIR MAIL TO LEBANON RESUMES

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AIR MAIL SERVICES TO LEBANON HAVE RESUMED PARTIALLY AFTER BEING SUSPENDED SINCE JUNE 17, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY).

LETTERS AND CARDS MAY NOW BE POSTED TO LEBANON BUT ALL OTHER POSTAL SERVICES REMAIN SUSPENDED.

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