ON
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982
STRONGER MONITORING FUNCTION URGED
****
THE HON ALEX WU SPOKE, DURING WHAT HE TERMED THE +ELECTRIFYING+ DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN EXERCISING THE CONTROL OF THE SCHEMES.
WHILE POINTING OUT THAT THE SCHEMES WERE DESIGNED ON THE ONE HAND TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A REASONABLE DEAL AND ON THE OTHER TO ENSURE THAT INVESTORS WILL CONTINUE TO BE WILLING TO INVEST IN PROVIDING ELECTRICITY, MR WU STRESSED THAT THE MONITORING FUNCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SCHEMES NEEDED TO BE STRENGTHENED.
+IN MY OPINION, THE MONITORING UNIT SHOULD NOT ONLY APPROVE THE FINANCIAL PLANS AT INTERVALS BUT SHOULD PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN THE OPERATION,
+ IN OTHER WORDS, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A PLACE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANIES OPERATING UNDER THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL, AS IN THE CASE OF OTHER PUBLIC UTILITIES IN WHICH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALREADY PRESENT.
+PROVIDED THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE OF THE BUSINESS, THEY CAN PLAY AN EXTREMELY USEFUL ROLE TO SEE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE SAFEGUARD FOR CONSUMER INTERESTS, HE SAID.
AD HOC COMMITTEE PROPOSED ****
THE HON F.K. HU (WHOSE SPEECH WAS DELIVERED BY DR HENRY HU) CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE OPERATION OF THE POWER COMPANIES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRESENT SCHEMES OF CONTROL.
HE WELCOMED THE PUBLICATION OF THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL BUT POINTED OUT THAT THEY SHOULD BE ASSESSED AND MODIFIED, IF NECESSARY, FROM TIME TO TIME TO COPE WITH CHANGING SITUATIONS.
+ALL PARTIES, INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT, THE POWER COMPANIES AND THE CONSUMERS, MUST ENSURE SATISFACTORY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL WHICH CAN BE MODIFIED IF ALL SIGNING PARTIES AGREE,+ HE SAID.
MR HU SAID THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIST OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS, UMELCO MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGEABLE IN MANAGEMENT AND ELECTRICITY GENERATION.
CONSULTANTS SHOULD ALSO BE ENGAGED TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND SERVICE TO THIS COMMITTEE WHICH, MR HU SUGGESTED, SHOULD LOOK INTO THE FOLLOWING AREAS.
EFFICACY OF