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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1975
IF THIS WERE THE CASE, HE SAID, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO HEED THE WARNING SOUNDED AT THE CONFERENCE THAT THE CONTRIBUTION OF FOSSIL FUEL POWER TO CIVILISATION IN THE COMING YEARS WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON ACHIEVING SATISFACTORY SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF INSECURITY OF FUEL SUPPLY AND TO THE ENVIRNOMENTAL PROBLEMS.
ON THE QUESTION OF FINANCING, MR. ROBSON SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE WAS THAT NO INDUSTRY OF SERVICE SHOULD BE SUBSIDISED AND THAT EACH SHOULD PAY ITS WAY. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT MEAN THAT THERE WERE NO CONTROLS OVER WHAT THE POWER COMPANIES CHARGED.
IN FUTURE, HE SAID, THERE WERE GOING TO BE MORE SYSTEMATIC CONTROLS OVER THE AFFAIRS OF PRIVATELY OWNED UTILITY COMPANIES, ALTHOUGH HE WAS SURE THESE CONTROLS WOULD BE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPANIES COULD GET ON WITH THE JOB OF PROVIDING AN EFFICIENT PUBLIC SERVICE AT THE MINIMUM REASONABLE PRICE.
MR. ROBSON EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO INTENTION OF ATTEMPTING TO RUN ANYTHING WHICH COULD BE LEFT TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.
IN FACT, THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN POWER PRODUCTION IN HONG KONG DURING THE PAST 30 YEARS WAS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER WAS LEFT TO FREE ENTERPRISE, HE ADDED.
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