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Third, we have been saying for some time that it is only right for the community to contribute to the costs of these essential services, as residents in many cities elsewhere do. But we have also promised that such contributions would be modest, that they would be fair, and that they would be affordable. And so it transpires. In line with the Polluter Pays Principle, the charging scheme this Bill introduces establishes a direct link between the extent to which sewage services are used and the amount of charges which will be paid. Moreover, by funding in full the capital costs, and by allowing a nil return on capital investments and a nil depreciation The on existing sewerage assets, sewage charges are significantly reduced. Government has therefore fulfilled its commitment to keep charges modest.
The Bills Committee has, however, made several suggestions to improve the charging scheme and I am happy to report that these proposals have been accepted by the Administration. We have, for example, agreed with the Bills Committee to do away with fixed charges and to base sewage charges for all consumers on a uniform volumetric charge only. This is a welcome simplification to the charging scheme. We have agreed to model the exemption arrangement for households on the existing water tariff. We have agreed with the Bills Committee to further refine the charging arrangements for trade and industry. We have accepted the Bills Committee's suggestion that, to protect the privacy of households, the Drainage Authority would first need to obtain the consent of the occupier before entering into domestic premises for purposes under the Bill. Mr President, the Administration is grateful for these suggestions and I will therefore move amendments to the Sewage Services Bill at the Committee Stage to effect them.
Finally, I should refer to two other issues which concerned the Bills Committee. First, some Members were concerned that sewage charges may impose financial hardship on some households in fact given the arrangements we propose I cannot honestly envisage this. Nevertheless, to clear away any residual concem, I can assure Members that upon the introduction of the sewage charging scheme, the rates of water allowance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme will be reviewed accordingly to ensure that the modest sewage charges will not cause any additional financial burden to be placed on the families who are recipients of public assistance. Second, the Bills Committee took the view that the introduction of sewage charges should be contingent upon the timely implementation of the High Priority Programme. Although the charging scheme and the construction programme are not directly related, as the capital costs of the priority sewerage programme will be funded by the Government and not by charges, I confirm, yet again, that the High Priority Programme will be completed in early 1997. Indeed, as I have explained, we have a responsibility to build this urgently required programme and to abate without delay the harbour pollution we have tolerated for too long.