FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1976
PROPOSAL TO LEGALISE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO SQUATTER AREAS
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LEGISLATION IS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) WHICH PROPOSES TO AMEND THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ORDINANCE TO ENABLE POWER COMPANIES TO EXTEND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES INTO SQUATTER AREAS. AN AMENDMENT
ILL ALSO BE MADE TO THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY REGULATIONS.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1976.
THE PROPOSALS ARE TIED IN WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME NOW UNDER WAY TO PROVIDE A LEGAL SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY TO SQUATTER AREAS, STARTING WITH THE PILOT PROJECT IN THE MA CHAI HANG - LION ROCK VILLAGE AREA, NORTH OF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WHERE SOME 8,000 PEOPLE LIVE.
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSALS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING BRANCH OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT SAID THE SCHEME WAS DEVISED BY A JOINT WORKING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT AND CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY. AS A RESULT OF GROWING CONCERN OVER ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY TAPPINGS AND THE DANGERS THEY POSE.
THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY HAS DESIGNED A NEW OVERHEAD SUPPLY SYSTEM TO BRING ELECTRICITY INTO SQUATTER AREAS AND THIS COULD BE USED AS THE BASIS FOR FUTURE SUPPLIES TO OTHER SQUATTER AREAS.
THE AMENDMENTS THEN, HE EXPLAINED ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE PROPER LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE SCHEME.
+AS THINGS NOW STAND, THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS PRECLUDE THE POWER COMPANIES FROM SUPPLYING ELECTRICITY TO MOST SQUATTER HUTS EXCEPT STURDILY BUILT ONES.+
THE AMENDMENT BILL ENABLES THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING TO DESIGNATE AREAS TO BE SPECIAL AREAS WHERE THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL REGULATIONS,
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IS ALSO EMPOWERED TO MAKE REGULATIONS TO CONTROL AND REGULATE THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY IN SPECIAL AREAS TO ENSURE, SO FAR AS IS PRACTICABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN SUCH AREAS AND FOR THE APPLICATION, OR OTHERWISE, OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS TO SPECIAL AREAS.
THE AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS IS A REDEFINITION OF CONSUMER'S WIRES, SO AS TO COVER THE NORMAL SITUATION WHERE THEY START IN THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE, AND ALSO TO INCLUDE WHERE NECESSARY CONSUMER'S WIRES EXTENDING BEYOND THE STRUCTURE UP TO THE POWER COMPANY'S METER PILLARS, WHICH WILL BE THE SITUATION IN AT LEAST SOME OF THE SPECIAL AREAS.
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