XN000022-1992-01-14 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1992

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'INDEED WE ARE NOW SEEING MARKETS IN EUROPE AND AMERICA, AND MAJOR RETAILERS SOURCING THEIR REQUIREMENTS IN HONG KONG, PLACING PRESSURE ON THEIR SUPPLIERS TO MEET CERTAIN BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS."

DR REED WENT ON TO EXPRESS THE VIEW THAT THESE PRESSURES TOGETHER WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS OF MAJOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, SUCH AS JOHNSON & JOHNSON, WOULD HAVE MORE INFLUENCE ON LOCAL COMPANIES THAN ANY AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT EXHORTATION.

"BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PLAY ITS ROLE IN PROVIDING A STABLE PLANNING BORIZON FOR COMPANIES 1N RELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL SECTORS OF INDUSTRY, WHETHER LOCAL OR POREIGN, BIG OR SMALL," DE REED EMPHASISED.

HE CONCLUDED THAT, AT LEAST IN REGIONAL TERMS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS DOING THIS AND THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES SET OUT IN THE JUNE 1989 WHITE PAPER SHOULD PROVIDE A GREAT DEAL OF COMFORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS TO BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL COMPANIES IN HONG KONG.

DECEMBER NOTED FOR INTENSE COLD SURGE

DESPITE THE ABOVE-NORMAL MONTHLY MEAN TEMPERATURES AND ONE OF THE WARMEST CHRISTMAS EVER, DECEMBER LAST YEAR WAS NOTED FOR AN INTENSE COLD SURGE TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT RELEASED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE DAILY MEAN (6.1 DEGREES CELSIUS) AND MINIMUM (4.6 DEGREES CELSIUS) TEMPERATURES ON DECEMBER 28 WERE THE SECOND LOWEST ON RECORD FOR DECEMBER, WHILE THE DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 9.6 DEGREES CELSIUS THE NEXT DAY WAS THE FOURTH LOWEST FOR DECEMBER.

IN CONTRAST, THE DAILY MINIMUM (19.6 DEGREES CELSIUS), MEAN (21.2 DEGREES CELSIUS), AND MAXIMUM (24.2 DEGREES CELSIUS) TEMPERATURES ON DECEMBER 25 WERE RESPECTIVELY THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD HIGHEST FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

A TEMPERATURE FALL OF NEARLY 20 DEGREES CELSIUS OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS BROUGHT FREEZING CONDITIONS AND LED TO WIDESPREAD FROSTING AND ICING ON THE HILLS AND HIGH GROUND.

DECEMBER 1991 WAS ON THE WHOLE RELATIVELY HUMID. THE MONTHLY MEAN WET-BULA TEMPERATURE OF 15.9 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS THE NINTH HIGHEST FOR DECEMBER. HOWEVER, IT WAS ANOTHER DRY MONTH IN TERMS OF RAINFALL AMOUNT.

/THE MONTHLY