XN000022-1992-06-22 — Page 5

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1992

THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS ISSUED WITH THE CERTIFICATE CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING TEMPORARILY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

THE LICENSING SCHEME WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN STAGES WITH GUESTHOUSES AND HOTELS FOR TOURISTS COMING UNDER THE FIRST PHASE.

THEY ARE GIVEN, IN PRINCIPLE, A TWO-YEAR EXEMPTION PERIOD TO ENABLE THEM TO UPGRADE THEIR FIRE PREVENTION INSTALLATIONS TO MEET THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES

THE OLA WILL, UPON THE EXPIRY OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS

THE EXEMPTION PERIOD IN SEPTEMBER 1993, REQUIRE TO COMPLY WITH THE FIRE PREVENTION AND STRUCTURAL SAFETY STANDARDS AS LAID DOWN IN THE ORDINANCE, MR SUEN SAID.

"HOWEVER, EXTENSION OF THE EXEMPTION PERIOD OR FLEXIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN NEWLY INTRODUCED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR INDIVIDUAL CASES, ESPECIALLY IN CONNECTION WITH HOTELS," HE ADDED.

TIME ADJUSTMENT FOR ONE SECOND DELAY

* * *

AT 8 AM ON JULY 1, THE USUAL SIX-PIP TIME SIGNAL FROM THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY WILL NOT BE BROADCAST BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.

IT WILL RESUME AT 8.30 AM OR 9 AM DEPENDING ON THE RADIO

CHANNEL.

THIS IS TO ENABLE AN ADJUSTMENT то BE APPLIED WHICH WILL RESULT IN A DELAY OF ONE SECOND TO THE HONG KONG STANDARD TIME.

THIS ADJUSTMENT ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT THE TIME SCALE NOW IN USE, KNOWN AS THE CO-ORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME (UTC), 19 BASED ON THE ATOMIC TIME SCALE WHICH PROVIDES A MORE PRECISE AND UNIFORM SECOND THAN THAT DERIVED BY ASTRONOMICAL MEANS.

IT HAS BEEN INTERNATIONALLY AGREED THAT AN ADJUSTMENT OF ONE SECOND SHOULD BE APPLIED FROM TIME TO TIME SO THAT THE CO-ORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME WILL NOT DIFFER FROM THE ASTRONOMICAL TIME BY MORE THAN NINE-TENTHS OF A SECOND.

THE LAST ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE ON JANUARY 1, 1991.

THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY OPERATES A HIGH PRECISION ATOMIC CLOCK GIVING CO-ORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO CARRY OUT TIME CHECKS CAN EITHER LISTEN TO THE TIME SIGNAL BROADCAST BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG OR CALL THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY ON TEL 732 9472.

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