XN000022-1988-04-22 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1988

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THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC VIEWS ON SUMMER TIME

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THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO SEEK PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE DESIRABILITY OF A PROPOSAL TO ADOPT SUMMER TIME (GMT + 9) IN HONG KONG WILL BE GENUINE CONSULTATION EXERCISE, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH, MR TSAO STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE.

MR TSAO POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG ONCE HAD DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IN WINTER AND THIS GMT + 9 IN WINTER WAS VERY UNPOPULAR BECAUSE IT MEANT THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF WORKERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN HAD TO LEAVE HOME IN THE DARK.

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JUST TO PROVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES SOMETIMES LEARN FROM ITS MISTAKES, THIS TIME WE ARE ADOPTING A DIFFERENT APPROACH, HE SAID.

TAKING ANY DECISION OF

"FIRSTLY, THE GOVERNMENT IS AVOIDING ITS OWN BEFORE IT HAS EXPLAINED CLEARLY THE CHOICES AND CONSULTED PUBLIC OPINION AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE.

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"WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AS THOROUGH A READING OF PUBLIC VIEWS THIS SUBJECT AS WE CAN BY GOING TO ALL DISTRICT BOARDS, ALL SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, TRANSPORT OPERATORS (INCLUDING AIRLINES), POWER COMPANIES, BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS AND SO ON.

BASICALLY, WE ARE SAYING TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG: TELL US WHAT YOU WANT.

MR TSAO NOTED THAT THE SECOND THING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME WAS ΤΟ RULE OUT ADOPTION OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, THAT IS, GMT + 9, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

OR FUEL

"UNLESS THERE IS SOME EMERGENCY INVOLVING ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE,

CANNOT SEE THAT PARTICULAR OPTION BEING CONSIDERED AGAIN," HE SAID.

THEREFORE, MR TSAO SAID, THE PRESENT DEBATE WOULD FOCUS ON TWO CHOICES. THE FIRST WAS TO MAINTAIN THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF GMT + 8 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; THE SECOND OPTION WAS TO STAY ON GMT + 8 DURING THE WINTER BUT TO SWITCH TO GMT + 9 FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.

MR TSAO SAID THAT THE PROPOSED ADOPTION OF SUMMER TIME WOULD ALLOW AN EXTRA HOUR OF SUNLIGHT IN THE EVENING WHEN VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY WAS AWAKE.

ALSO, HE SAID, THRKE WAS SOME EVIDENCE THAT SUMMER TIME RESULTED IN A SAVING IN ELECTRICITY AND FUEL CONSUMPTION.

/"HOWEVER, I