XN000022-1976-12-17 — Page 5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1976

THEFT OF PUBLIC WATER

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THE P.W.D.'S DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. WILLIAM TUCKER, TODAY WARNED THAT STRONG ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE FOUND STEALING WATER BY MEANS OF ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS.

+THEFT OF PUBLIC WATER IS TANTAMOUNT TO STEALING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL NOT HESITATE TO BRING SUCH OFFENDERS TO BOOK, HE SAID.

MR. TUCKER SOUNDED THE WARNING FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF CASES HEARD IN NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRACY THIS MORNING IN WHICH FIVE TENANTS FROM SAU MAU PING ESTATE WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $3,000 FOR ILLEGALLY DRAWING WATER THROUGH UNAUTHORISED CONNECTIONS.

LAST WEEK, FOUR OPERATORS OF POULTRY STORES WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $6,000 FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES.

+ THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TAKES A SERIOUS VIEW OF SUCH MALPRACTICES, PARTICULARLY SINCE THEY UNFAIRLY SHIFT THE BURDEN ON HONEST CONSUMERS WHO, IN EFFECT, ARE FORCED TO SUBSIDISE A MINORITY OF UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE, + HE SAID.

MR. TUCKER SAID THAT UNDER THE WATERWORKS ORDINANCE ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF UNLAWFUL TAKING OF WATER WAS LIABLE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $5,000.

OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, HE SAID, 34 SUMMONSES HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR SUCH OFFENCES AGAINST 24 PEOPLE.

OF THESE, 11 HAVE APPEARED IN COURT AND WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $10,350, THE FINES RANGED FROM $600 TO $1,500. THE REMAINING CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

MR. TUCKER SAID THAT BECAUSE OF STAFF LIMITATIONS IT HAD NOT ALWAYS BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROSECUTE EVERY CASE COMING TO THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION.

+HOWEVER, STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN THE DEPARTMENT'S PROSECUTION UNIT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

+THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WE INTEND TO TAKE VIGOROUS ACTION TO STOP THIS ABUSE OF ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCES, HE STRESSED.

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