XN000022-1992-01-29 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1992

GOVERNOR VISITS ROYAL OBSERVATORY

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, VISITED THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO SEE ITS OPERATIONS.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR PATRICK SHAM.

SIR DAVID TOURED THE CENTRAL FORECASTING OFFICE WHERE HF WAS BRIEFED ON THE EQUIPMENT USED FOR WEATHER FORECASTING, INCLUDING MODERN DISPLAY UNITS SHOWING SATELLITE IMAGES OF CLOUD MOVEMENTS OVER THE REGION AND RADAR PICTURES OF RAIN FALLING ON AND AROUND HONG KONG.

HE TOOK A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE ELECTRONIC NETWORK USED FOR ASSESSING THE RISK OF FLOODS AND LANDSLIPS, EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN ISSUING TYPHOON WARNINGS.

RAINGAUGE AND THE

SIR DAVID THEN VISITED THE EXHIBITION HALL TO SEE THE DISPLAYS SHOWING THE WORK OF THE OBSERVATORY FOR VISITORS AND SCHOOL GROUPS.

"THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IS MAKING

UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT, SIR DAVID SAID.

GOOD USE OF SOME VERY

HEAVY-RAIN

"ITS SERVICES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. TYPHOONS AND FORECASTS SAVE LIVES. THERE ARE MANY, LIKE QUR FISHERMEN, WHO RELY HEAVILY ON WEATHER REPORTS, HE ADDED.

**

AND

BEFORE LEAVING THE OBSERVATORY, SIR DAVID ATTENDED A TEA RECEPTION AT WHICH HE MET THE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.

PUBLIC VIEWS ON RENEWAL OF FRANCHISE WITH CMB INVITED

A CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON THE RENEWAL OF FRANCHISE WITH THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY (CMB) IS BEING CONDUCTED AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE OPERATION AND SERVICES OF THE BUS COMPANY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT BRANCH SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE TWO-YEAR FRANCHISE EXTENSION SOUGHT BY CMB WAS UNDER EXAMINATION.

"LIKE OTHER FRANCHISE RENEWAL EXERCISE, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC WITH CMB ON THE TERMS OF THE NEW - FRANCHISE AGREEMENT."

"VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC WILL BE CAREFULLY AND FULLY CONSIDERED BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE, HE SAID.

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/THE SPOKESMAN