CO129-513-6 Hong Kong water supply- schemes for development and improvement 25-1-1929 - 2-8-1929 — Page 21

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statutory maximum of one dollar per thousand gallons.

An amendment of the principal Ordinance was also necessary,

or at least desirable, in order to make the abolition of

the "free allowance" and the raising of the price for excess

consumption apply to the current quarter which had already

began before the decision was finally taken. In connexion

with this retrospective provision it also seemed desirable to recognise in the Ordinance what is referred to in para. 6

below as the "meter reader's quarter". The whole aim of

this proposed legislation was to check waste and encourage

economy in the use of water. As the principal Ordinance was

being amended the opportunity was taken to revise and

increase the penalties under it. This part of the present

Ordinance was also partly aimed at checking waste.

4. The water situation had improved so much towards the

end of July that it was decided to suspend the making of the

proposed regulations by which the "free allowance" would

have actually been abolished and by which the charge for

excess consumption would have been raised. The Ordinance

was, however, proceeded with, because it may still be

necessary to make the proposed regulations, and also because

some of the provisions of the Ordinance are desirable for

general reasons.

5.

Section 2 (a) (ii) of the principal Ordinance referred

to a quarterly allowance. This is the so-called "free

allowance". Section 2 of this Ordinance substitutes the

term "quarterly amount" because "allowance" suggests a

"free allowance" and that was to be abandoned temporarily.