WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
FR. MCGOVERN POINTED OUT THAT TO CONSERVE FUEL, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NOT THE POWERS AND PENALTIES PROVIDED BY THE BILL, BUT VOLUNTARY PUBLIC EFFORT TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY.
HE SAID THERE HAS BEEN INCREASING EVIDENCE IN RECENT MONTHS THAT THE REAL INCOMES OF MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE LOSING AGAINST INFLATION AND ONE WAY TO HELP TURN THE TIDE IS TO CUT DOWN ON THE UNNECESSARY USE OF ELECTRICITY THROUGH CARELESS OR THOUGHTLESS HABITS.
HE SAID THERE WAS AT FIRST SOME CONFUSION OVER THE EXACT REASON FOR INTRODUCING OIL CONSERVATION MEASURES, WHETHER THERE WAS TALK OF ACTUAL PHYSICAL SHORTAGE OF OIL REACHING HONG KONG OR WHETHER WE WERE TO SAVE MONEY TO BUY OIL AT VERY EXPENSIVE SPOT PRICES.
+TO ME, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OUR BALANCE OF TRADE AND ITS EFFECT ON INFLATION, IT WOULD NOT MATTER MUCH WHICH WAS THE REAL REASON. EITHER WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THIS LEGISLATION,+ HE SAID.
THE HON. JAMES WU ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND ASKED THAT THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BE GIVEN PRIORITY SHOULD IT EVER BECOME NECESSARY TO ALLOCATE OIL RESOURCES.
HE FURTHER URGED THAT THE SAME PRIORITY BE GIVEN IN THE USE OF VEHICLES, FOR THE TRANSPORT OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS.
PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE SO ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC STABILITY IN HONG KONG WILL THUS NOT BE JEOPARDISED, HE SAID.
MR. WU ALSO SUGGESTED THAT AN ADVISORY MACHINERY WITH POSSIBLE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES COULD BE SET UP TO GIVE ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS TO THE DIRECTOR OF OIL SUPPLIES IN HIS DUTIES TO CONSERVE OIL CONSUMPTION.
CHANGES IN RENT CONTROL MEASURES PROPOSED
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THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, WHICH PROPOSES CERTAIN CHANGES IN THE RENT CONTROL MEASURES AFFECTING PRIVATE SECTOR TENANCIES.
THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDE:
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EXTENDING RENT CONTROL ON POSTWAR DOMESTIC PREMISES OCCUPIED BEFORE DECEMBER 14, 1973, FOR A FURTHER THREE YEARS-
REDUCING THE FACTOR REGULATING RENT INCREASES FROM '3' TO '2'-
A DECONTROLLING