XN000022-1974-05-22 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1974.

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RECOMMENDATION ON FUEL FOR DESALTER SOON

A RECOMMENDATION ON THE SUPPLY OF FUEL OIL FOR THE DESALTING PLANT IS EXPECTED TO BE MADE TO THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD SHORTLY, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO DOCTOR THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN, MR. JORDAN SAID THE ANTICIPATED RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWED NEGOTIATIONS WHICH HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME OVER THE QUESTION OF SUPPLY OF FUEL FOR THE DESALTER FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.

ON THE WHOLE INTER-RELATED ISSUE OF OIL, DESALTATION AND WATER SUPPLY, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS RECONSIDERING NOT JUST THE ECONOMICS OF THE DESALTING PLANT BUT THE ECONOMICS OF ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLIES GENERALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRICE ⚫ AND SUPPLY SITUATION WITH REGARD TO FUEL OIL.

+FOR INSTANCE, WHEN CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF GATHERING MORE WATER FROM NATURAL SOURCES WE HAVE IN RECENT YEARS NOT PURSUED ANY SCHEME WHERE THE COST OF WATER WOULD BE GREATER THAN THE COST OF DESALTED WATER.

RECONSIDER

+CLEARLY WE MUST NOW -- INDEED WE HAVE STARTED TO SUCH SCHEMES UP TO A HIGHER CUT-OFF POINT SINCE OUR EARLIER ASSUMPTIONS ON THE FUTURE COST OF DESALTED WATER MUST BE REVISED.

+BUT I SHOULD ADD THAT THE ADDITIONAL YIELD FROM SUCH SCHEMES IS UNLIKELY TO DO MORE THAN MEET THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.+

IN THE LONG TERH, MR. JORDAN SAID THE QUESTION OF SUPPLY OF FUEL FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS, OF WHICH THE DESALTER IS ONLY A PART, WAS UNDER CO.SIDERATION.

+WE MUST CLEARLY RECONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF USING OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY IN THE LI HT OF THE CHANCED SITUATION WITH REGARD TO OIL SUPPLIES AND PRICE •*

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DILLS PASSED

TWO BILLS

THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION CAMENDMENT) BILL AND THE NURSES REGISTRATION CAMENDMENT) BILL -- PASSED THEIR THIRD AND FINAL READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

ANOTHER BILL, THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL CAMENDMENT) BILL, WAS INTRODUCED IN COUNCIL AND DEBATE ON ITS SECOND READING WAS ADJOURNED.

THE ANNUAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFIARS FOR THE YEAR 1972/73 WAS TABLED IN COUNCIL.

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