XN000022-1974-12-06 — Page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1974.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE COST OF MAKING A CONNECTION TO THE MAIN, WHICH IS THE MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE WATERWORKS CHARGES FOR METERED CONNECTIONS, REMAINS UNCHANGED ALTHOUGH THE INSTALLATION OF ONE METER - WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY

- HAS NOW BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CONNECTION FEE FOR THIS WORK EXCLUDED. HOWEVER, THIS IS OFFSET BY THE EXCLUSION OF CHARGES FOR REINSTATEMENT OF THE ROAD AND PAVEMENT SURFACES WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY THE SUBJECT OF A SEPARATE CONSUMER ACCOUNT.

A FIXED STATUTORY CHARGE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED FOR THE PROVISION AND INSTALLATION OF A METER, FOR WHICH THE CONSUMER UNDER THE OLD ORDINANCE WAS BILLED ON THE BASIS OF THE ACTUAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT.

THE OLD REGULATIONS DID NOT CONTAIN ANY PROVISION FOR THE THIS HAS NOW BEEN SUPPLY OF SALT WATER FOR FLUSHING PURPOSES. RECTIFIED SO THAT THE WATER AUTHORITY MAY REQUIRE THE USE OF SALT WATER FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FORMALLY PRESCRIBE THE MATERIALS TO BE USED AND THE CHARGE FOR SUCH SUPPLIES.

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UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR A PLUMBER'S LICENCE HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE HOLDERS OF A CERTIFICATE IN PLUMBING OR ALLIED TRADES FROM THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC OR THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

THERE ARE TWO GRADES OF LICENCES, THE FIRST OF WHICH ENTITLED THE HOLDER TO UNDERTAKE ALL TYPES OF PLUMBING WORK ON NEW OR EXISTING SERVICES, THE SECOND IS RESTRICTED TO THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF EXISTING SERVICES AND ALL WORK CONNECTED WITH THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF WATER APPLIANCES.

THE GRADING WAS INTRODUCED BECAUSE MANY PLUMBERS AND CERTAIN FIRMS ENGAGED IN THE SALE AND INSTALLATION OF WATER APPLIANCES DO NOT ENGAGE IN, AND DO NOT HAVE THE FACILITIES FOR CARRYING OUT, LARGE-SCALE PLUMBING WORKS. THE GRADING OF ALL NEW APPLICANTS FOR PLUMBERS' LICENCES WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE APPLICANTS' FACILITIES AND RESOURCES.

EXISTING LICENCE-HOLDERS WILL BE ADVISED OF THEIR GRADING

THE FOLLOWING A SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. FEE FOR THE ISSUE OF A PLUMBER'S LICENCE HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $10 TO $40 A YEAR AND, FOR THE RENEWAL OF A PLUMBER'S LICENCE, FROM $5 TO $20 A YEAR.

FISHING LICENCE FEES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED FROM $10 TO $20 A YEAR TO REFLECT THE INCREASE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INVOLVED IN ISSUING THESE LICENCES.

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