XN000022-1990-12-17 — Page 5

"WE UNDERSTAND THAT FURTHER REVIEWS WILL BE ARRANGED AFTER COMMISSIONING OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT, SHE ADDED.

+

REGARDING THE EFFECT OF THE CURRENT CRISIS IN THE GULF ON OIL FAR THE PHYSICAL SUPPLY OF OIL PRODUCTS HAD SO SUPPLY, MRS CHAN SAID

AREA EXCEPT NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE TENSIONS IN THE GULF THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN PRICE.

"ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT OIL SUPPLY SITUATION DOES NOT CALL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES AT THIS STAGE, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY PREPARED TO DEAL WITH ANY POSSIBLE

SHORTAGE IN THE GULF SITUATION WHICH MAY LEAD TO A DETERIORATION OIL PRODUCTS,' SHE SAID.

CONTAINED

**

OF

"IN THIS REGARD, GOVERNMENT MAY MAKE USE OF THE POWERS PROVIDE IN THE OIL (CONSERVATION AND CONTROL) ORDINANCE TO

FOR THE CONTROL OF THE SUPPLY AND USE OF OIL.

"THE POWERS ARE EXTENSIVE, BUT ARE DESIGNED FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ONLY. WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF RESORTING TO THEM SO LONG AS THE MARKET CONTINUES TO OPERATE NORMALLY," SHE SAID.

"BUT THIS TIME ROUND, WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNT DURING THE TWO PREVIOUS CRISES IN 1973 AND 1979," MRS CHAN SAID.

"AS A RESULT, WE ARE MUCH LESS DEPENDENT ON OIL FOR OUR BASIC

OF REQUIREMENTS, SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT SOME 98 PER CENT

OUR ENERGY ELECTRICITY IS NOW GENERATED BY BURNING COAL RATHER THAN OIL.

"AS A RESULT OF THE SWITCH OVER TO COAL AS THE MAIN SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION, HONG KONG HAS

FROM BENEFITTED SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN THE REAL COST OF POWER, MRS CHAN NOTED.

[

SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE FACE OF HONG KONG

*

AS A THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING CAN BE SEEN SYMBOL OF THE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WHICH IS HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE FACE OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

CEREMONY SIR DAVID SAID THIS WHILE OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING

URBAN COUNCIL'S FAT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS AND THE KWONG STREET INDOOR GAMES HALL.

"ALREADY HALF OF OUR POPULATION LIVES IN PUBLIC NEARLY HALF A MILLION MORE PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS WILL BE BUILT BY TURN OF THE CENTURY," HE SAID.

HOUSING

AND

THE

"BUT IT IS NOT JUST NUMBERS THAT MATTER. QUALITY, THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT MATTER TOO.

DESIGN

AND

/"DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS