88
2% Rate
10
Appendix II.
ESTIMATE OF REVENUE FROM WATER FOR 1937 ON PROPOSED
BASIS OF CHARGE.
Meter rents, Fire Service Rentals and Incidental Fees
Charges for consumption :-
Flat rates 4.929 million gallons@ 30 cents
Peak supplies 60 million gallons @ 50 cents
High level supplies 157 million gallons @ 40 cents
Shipping and construction supplies 184 million gallons @ $1.00......
706.739
258,520
11
Appendix IV.
WASTE DETECTION.
Estimated capital outlay necessary to equip Hong Kong and Kowloon for
systematic waste detection work;
Alterations to distribution systems
Provision of meters
Alterations to private house services
S
120,000
120,000
60,000
1,478,700
30,000
$
300.000
62,800
184.000
Annual operating expenses are estimated as follows :—
S 2,720,759
I European Inspector, including housing, travelling, transport and
pension @ say £500 per annum
S
8,000
544,152
10 Asiatic Inspectors, including housing, travelling, transport and
pension @ say $1,000 each
Fitters and coolies
Maintenance of meters and equipment
Road openings and reinstatement
10,000
7,000
5,000
10,000
Less Military contribution
Net revenue
$ 2,156.607
Appendix III.
40,000
COST OF MONTHLY ACCOUNTS.
If all accounts are placed on a monthly basis and all water paid for (f.c., the "free allowance" is abolished) the number of accounts issued monthly will increase from 6,000 to 25,000, on the basis of the existing number of meters. Obviously there will be a further increase in so far as separate metering of floors is adopted. Ignoring the latter, i... assuming the present number of meters, it is estimated that staff increases would be required in the Water Department and Treasury costing $14,000 per annum and $5,000 per annum respectively; and that non-recurrent expenditure would be required on addi- tional cash registers in the Treasury to the extent of approximately $15,000. Practically the whole of these increased charges would be attributable to the adoption of monthly accounts, as the new basis of charge, while involving the issue of accounts to more con- sumers will simplify the making out of accounts owing to the abolition of the "free allowance "*.
Additional office accommodation would also be necessary eventually and it would probably be desirable to establish a branch office in Kowloon (which might also be useful for other revenue collection work). It is, however, impossible to estimate the cost of this with any accuracy. The extent of the additional accommodation required must depend on how far separate metering of floors is adopted.
It may be put briefly that the cost of the universal monthly accounts is not likely to be less than $20,000 per annum and may well be much more.
Estimated ultimate saving in consumption-say 7%.
On present maximum consumption say 2 M.G.P.D.
S
262,500
Estimated capital outlay represented by 2 M.G.P.D. $3.500.000.
Loan Charges on $3,500,000.
Interest and Sinking Fund-71%
Deduct.
71% on $300,000
$ 22,500
Annual charges-salaries and maintenance
40,000
62,500
NOTE.
Estimated ultimate saving p.a.
200,000
An effective waste detection system will take a few years to perfect and during that period the average annual saving would be very considerably less than $200,000.
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