WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
10
HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE COST OF OPERATING THE DESALTER WAS EXCLUDED, AS THIS WAS A STRATEGIC AND STANDBY FACILITY AND WAS NOT A COMPONENT OF THE NORMAL WATER SUPPLY OPERATION.
A REVIEW OF THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE WATERWORKS INDICATES THAT THE FORECAST EXPENDITURE FOR 1982/83 WILL EXCEED THE EXPENDITURE IN 1979/80 BY 128 PER CENT. THIS COMPARES WITH AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF ONLY 66 PER CENT.
THIS REVISION, MR MCDONALD SAID, HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT AND HAD HAD REGARD TO THE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT OF INCREASED WATER CHARGES ON CONSUMERS AND THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE CONSERVATION OF WATER.
REFERRING TO THE INCREASE IN COST, HE SAID IT WOULD ONLY MEET IN PART THE DEFICIT IN THE OPERATING ACCOUNTS, REFLECTING GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN AT THE POSSIBLE INFLATIONARY CONSEQUENCES OF FULL ECONOMIC CHARGES.
THE NEW RATES OF CHARGE WILL, IN RESPECT OF WATER CONSUMED ON OR AFTER APRIL 1. 1982 BE REFLECTED IN THE FIRST BILLS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF METER READINGS TAKEN ON OR AFTER AUGUST 1, 1982.
LAW ON SEX ESTABLISHMENTS
***
THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT BY JUNE IT WOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER LEGISLATION DEALING WITH SEX ESTABLISHMENTS NEEDED TO BE AMENDED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS SAID AT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR GRIFFITHS REFERRED TO THE DIFFICULTY IN SOME CASES OF PROVING IN COURT WHETHER PREMISES WERE USED +WHOLLY OR MAINLY+ BY TWO OR MORE WOMEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION, OR USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ORGANISING OR ARRANGING OF PROSTITUTION.
HOWEVER, FOLLOWING A DECISION BY THE COURT OF APPEAL IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, PROSPECTS OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION IN SUCH CASES WAS ENHANCED.
PROSECUTIONS WERE THEREFORE BEING MONITORED, IN COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE POSITION IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW LEGAL DEFINITION HAD BEEN IMPROVED IN PRACTICE, HE SAID.
/11