XN000022-1985-10-18 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1985

+AS PRIME MINISTER LEE OBSERVED IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE CONGRESS A FEW DAYS AGO, YOUR SUCCESS IN FORCING OPEN SOME OF THESE MARKETS SHOULD BENEFIT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE OPEN MARKETS BUT FACE THE SAME OBSTACLES TO OUR EXPORTS,+ HE SAID.

SECOND, PRESIDENT REAGAN HAS INDICATED THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO DEVISE SOLUTIONS TO TRADE PROBLEMS.

THIRD IS THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITHIN OR IMPROVING THE GATT, AND ACHIEVING THIS THROUGH THE PROPOSED NEW ROUND OF MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS.

HONG KONG OF COURSE SUPPORTS ANY INITIATIVE THAT AIMS AT RESTORING, MAINTAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM.

SIR JOHN OPENS NEW HK ELECTRIC FACILITY

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ENERGY IN ALL ITS FORMS WAS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG, AND A RELIABLE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY WAS A BASIC ESSENTIAL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) AT THE OPENING OF THE HONGKONG ELECTRIC CO. LTD.'S SYSTEM CONTROL CENTRE AT THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN AP LEI CHAU.

SIR JOHN SAID THAT WHILE THE TECHNICALITIES AND SOPHISTICATION OF HONG KONG'S POWER SYSTEMS RARELY CAUGHT THE HEADLINES, AS PEOPLE WERE MORE INTERESTED IN TARIFFS, AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM CONTROL CENTRE WAS A VITAL PART OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND SUPPLY BECAUSE IT ENSURED THAT THE RISE AND FALL IN DEMAND WERE MET SO THAT THE POWER SUPPLY WAS MAINTAINED AND RELIABLE.

APART FROM THE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT THAT MADE UP THE CENTRE, THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY REPORTING CENTRE WHICH RECEIVED AND ATTENDED TO TELEPHONE CALLS FROM CONSUMERS ON ANY ABNORMAL OCCURRENCE IN THE SUPPLY SYSTEM.

+THE CUSTOMERS' INTERESTS ARE SAFEGUARDED, SIR JOHN SAID.

SPEAKING OF THE TIME NEEDED TO IDENTIFY A CABLE FAULT AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO RESTORE SUPPLY, HE SAID:+THERE IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACHIEVING THIS IN ONE-AND-A-HALF HOURS UNDER THE PREVIOUS CONTROL SYSTEM, AND THE FIVE-TO-10 MINUTES NOW POSSIBLE.+

SIR JOHN CONGRATULATED THE HONGKONG ELECTRIC COMPANY ON ITS NEW FACILITY AND ITS FAR-SIGHTEDNESS AND CONFIDENCE IN INVESTING TO MEET THE INCREASING AND CHANGING DEMAND OF HONG KONG.

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