XN000022-1983-08-29 — Page 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1983

HONG KONG'S AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL OF 2 224.7 MILLIMETRES IS INSUFFICIENT TO MEET GROWING DEMAND THE 1982-83 CONSUMPTION WAS 541 MILLION CUBIC METRES.

THE RESERVOIRS IN HONG KONG HAVE A COMBINED STORAGE CAPACITY OF 577 MILLION CUBIC METRES. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR IN 1979, THE LARGEST IN HONG KONG, THE TERRITORY'S LAST MAJOR CATCHMENTS WERE FULLY TAPPED.

+THE LACK OF SUITABLE SITES FOR MORE RESERVOIRS PLUS THE HIGH OPERATION COSTS OF THE DESALTER SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE LONG-TERM ARRANGEMENT WITH CHINA FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF WATER IS THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS SOLUTION,+ MR AU POINTED OUT.

STAGE 1 OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $725 MILLION. MAJOR WORK WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR AND IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION

IN 1987.

IT WILL INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PUMPING STATIONS AND IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING ONES, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AQUEDUCT BETWEEN THE PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR AND PAK KONG, INCLUDING A SUBMARINE PIPELINE ACROSS THE TOLO CHANNEL, TO SUPPLY MORE WATER TO EASTERN KOWLOON, JUNK BAY AND SAI KUNG.

AN AQUEDUCT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED FROM TAI PO TAU TO NGAU TAM MEI AND A PIPELINE LAID BETWEEN SHEUNG SHUI AND TAU PASS.

STAGE THREE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BETWEEN 1988 AND 1992 AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $300 MILLION.

WORKS INCLUDED IN THIS STAGE ARE MAINLY CONCERNED WITH PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL PUMPING PLANTS AT THE NEW STATIONS.

-

DEADLINE FOR PAID SICK LEAVE VIEWS NEARS

****

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT REMINDED THE PUBLIC TODAY (MONDAY) THAT SEPTEMBER 10 IS THE LAST DAY FOR FORWARDING COMMENTS ON THE PAID SICK LEAVE BILL TO THE DEPARTMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYEES' UNIONS, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS ARE WELCOME TO FORWARD THEIR VIEWS OR COMMENTS IN WRITING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF LEE GARDENS IN HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY.

A SUMMARY OF THE REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE UMELCO OFFICE.

/THE BILL