XN000022-1974-12-30 — Page 7

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1974

WATERWORKS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS 1974 TO COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1

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THE WATERWORKS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS 1974 WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1.

IN ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN DREW ATTENTION TO THE STATEMENT RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHICH POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE THE REGISTERED CONSUMER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. FOR THE PAYMENT OF WATER CHARGES MUST EITHER LIVE ON THE PREMISES IN QUESTION OR OWN THEM OR MANAGE THEM.

THE ORDINANCE ALSO INTRODUCED A NEW CATEGORY OF PERSON, KNOWN AS + THE AGENT+, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMUNAL WATER SERVICES AND ALSO MUST INHABIT OR OWN THE PREMISES OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ALL OR PART OF THEM.

GUIDANCE

FROM JANUARY 1, THEREFORE, ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW OR SEPARATE WATER SUPPLIES WILL HAVE TO SATISFY THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. WILL BE GIVEN WHEN APPLICATION IS MADE.

EXISTING CONSUMERS WILL BE APPROACHED SEPARATELY BY THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THEY MEET THE NEW REQUIRE- MENTS. IN CASES WHERE THEY DO NOT MEET THEM, AN ALTERNATIVE CONSUMER, ACCEPTABLE TO THE WATERWORKS OFF ICE, WILL NEED TO BE APPOINTED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ANYONE WHO IS A CONSUMER UNDER THE REPEALED ORDINANCE WILL REMAIN A CONSUMER UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE AND ANY UNDERTAKING GIVEN OR A DEPOSIT PAID BY A CONSUMER UNDER THE OLD ORDINANCE WILL REMAIN EFFECTIVE UNDER THE NEW ONE. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW ORDINANCE WILL NOT IMPOSE ANY NEW REQUIREMENT IN THIS RESPECT ON THE GREAT MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS.

UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE, MAPS OF THE GATHERING GROUNDS HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND WILL BE DEPOSITED IN THE APPROPRIATE LAND OFFICES IN HONG KONG AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

A NOTICE IDENTIFYING THE AREAS CONCERNED AND ADVISING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SO DEPOSITED WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON IN THE GAZETTE. THE MAPS WILL BE AVAILABLE, FOR REFERENCE, TO ANYONE NEEDING INFORMATION ON THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GATHERING GROUNDS.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT NEW PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE INCLUDE -

* THE IMPOSITION OF A 10 PER CENT SURCHARGE ON AMOUNTS WHICH

REMAIN OUTSTANDING FOR A PERIOD EXCEEDING SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE OF DEMAND (THE AMOUNT OUTSTANDING ON THE EXPIRY OF SIX MONTHS ALREADY INCLUDES A FIVE PER CENT SURCHARGE FOR NON-PAYMENT BY THE DUE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE OF DEMAND AND THE IMPOSITION OF A FURTHER 10 PER CENT IS. IN LINE WITH SIMILAR PROVISIONS FOR THE COLLECTION OF RATES AND TAXES.+)

/* THE USE OF SALT