XN000022-1976-07-30 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1976

REGULATIONS FOR LEGALISED ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO SPECIAL AREAS ********

THE ILLEGAL TAPPING OF ELECTRICITY AND THE TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTRIC COMPANY'S EQUIPMENT IN ANY AREA THAT IS DESIGNATED AS A SPECIAL AREA UNDER THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ORDINANCE ARE MADE OFFENCES UNDER NEW REGULATIONS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY).

IN EITHER CASE, THE PENALTY FOR DOING SO, IS A FINE OF 2,000 AND THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT. IN THE CASE OF AN UNAUTHORISED CONNECTION,THERE IS A FURTHER FINE OF $100 FOR EACH DAY THE OFFENCE CONTINUES.

THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (SPECIAL AREAS) REGULATIONS 1976

ARE DESIGNED TO ENABLE ELECTRICITY TO BE SUPPLIED TO SPECIAL AREAS WHERE, BECAUSE DIFFERENT SUPPLY SYSTEMS MAY HAVE TO BE USED, SOME OF THE EXISTING REGULATIONS CANNOT BE APPLIED.

THESE REGULATIONS FOLLOW RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SCHEME NOW UNDER WAY TO PROVIDE A LEGALISED SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO SIX SQUATTER VILLAGES IN KOWLOON. THE SCHEME WAS DEVISED BY A WORKING PARTY COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO. LTD.

THE NEW REGULATIONS FOR SPECIAL AREAS GAZETTED TODAY ALSO COVER TECHNICAL MATTERS INCLUDING THE RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POWER COMPANIES AND CONSUMERS REGARDING THE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT AND PRECAUTIONS AGAINST

FIRE- INSPECTION OF CONSUMERS WIRINGS AND INSTALLATIONS BEFORE CONNECTION, AND THE USE OF SAFETY FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS TOGETHER WITH PENALTIES FOR ANY CONTRAVENTIONS.

IN ADDITION, MOST OF THE EXISTING GENERAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY REGULATIONS ARE MADE APPLICABLE TO SPECIAL AREAS AS WELL.

NEW $5 COIN TO CIRCULATE ON AUGUST 16

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THE NEW $5 COIN WILL START CIRCULATING FROM AUGUST 16. IT WILL GRADUALLY REPLACE THE $5 BANKNOTE IN USE AT PRESENT.

BEING ACCORDING TO A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, THE COINS ARE INTRODUCED EARLY BECAUSE OF THE ESCALATION OF NOTE PRINTING COSTS.

ORIGINALLY, HE SAID, THE COINAGE REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE $5 COIN SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN 1978.

+THE ECONOMIES DERIVE FROM THE FACT THAT THE LIFE OF A COIN CAN BE AS MUCH AS 50 YEARS WHEREAS THE $5 NOTE ONLY HAS A LIFE OF ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS, HE SAID.

THE NEW COIN IS 10 SIDED AND MEASURES 31 MILLIMETRES DIAGONALLY. IT IS MINTED IN CUPRO-NICKEL LIKE THE PRESENT ONE DOLLAR COIN AND IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS THE PRESENT ONE DOLLAR COIN BUT WEIGHS SLIGHTLY LESS.

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