XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 47

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

HE NOTED THAT MEASURES SUCH AS RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR ADVERTISING DISPLAYS AND FLOODLIGHTING PURPOSES, ADOPTATION OF DAYLIGHT SAVING HOURS AND EVEN SUSPENSION OF SOME NIGHT RACE MEETINGS WERE TAKEN FROM TIME TO TIME.

HOWEVER, MR JACOBS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN NORMAL TIMES WHEN SUPPLIES WERE ADEQUATE, IT SHOULD NOT BE SO RESTRICTIVE THAT INDUSTRY WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED IN ANY WAY, PARTICULARLY BY MAKING IT LESS COMPETITIVE WITH INDUSTRY CARRIED ON IN OTHER PLACES IN THE REGION.

+NOR DO WE WISH TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS THAT DAMAGE THE IMPROVING LIFESTYLE OF OUR COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IN THIS REGARD THE DENSITY OF POPULATION AND THE CLIMATE HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT,

MR JACOBS ALSO NOTED THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAD MAINTAINED MANY OF THE ENERGY ECONOMY MEASURES WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE OIL CRISES IN 1973 AND 1979.

+FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE CARRIED OUT DETAILED STUDIES IN RELATION TO SEVERAL MAJOR BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS WITH A VIEW TO ATTAINING SIGNIFICANT ENERGY SAVINGS.

+WE HAVE ALSO PUBLISHED INFORMATION ON ENERGY CONSERVATION IN BUILDINGS, AND THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE INVOLVED WITH PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT.

+ IN A SUSTAINED EFFORT TO NURTURE A MORE ENERGY-CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY, ENERGY CONSERVATION IS INCORPORATED IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM,+ HE SAID.

MR JACOBS SAID THAT IN ESTABLISHING POLICIES FOR CONSERVING ENERGY FOR HONG KONG, SOME FACTORS THAT WERE OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO ITS OWN CIRCUMSTANCES HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

FIRST, HONG KONG WAS A VERY SMALL USER OF ENERGY BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. SECOND, IT HAD NO ENERGY RESOURCES OF ITS OWN.

+WE ARE THUS TOTALLY DEPENDENT UPON THE RULES OF THE MARKETPLACE INSOFAR AS THE IMPORT OF THE RAW MATERIALS OF ENERGY IS CONCERNED, HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE SITUATION WAS MONITORED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S ENERGY NEEDS WERE SATISFIED, AND IF THERE WAS A PROSPECT OF A SHORTAGE, NECESSARY STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD THE POSITION,

HE ADDED THAT IN THE PAST THE AUTHORITY HAD INTERVENED TO ENSURE THAT SUPPLIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE WERE PRUDENTLY USED WITH A VIEW TO MINIMISING AS FAR AS POSSIBLE ANY DISRUPTION TO THE ECONOMY OR TO PEOPLE'S LIFESTYLE.

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