XN000022-1979-04-15 — Page 2

SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 1979

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WATER LARGE TRADE CONSUMERS ADVISED

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TO APPLY EARLY FOR CONCESSIONARY TAR IFF

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THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAS WRITTEN TO LARGE TRADE CONSUMERS ASKING THEM TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR THE CONCESSIONARY TARIFF WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT WITH THE NEW WATER RATES ON APRIL 1.

AT THE SAME TIME THE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THAT TRADE CONSUMERS WHO DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER, BUT WHO FELT THEY SHOULD ALSO BE GRANTED THE CONCESSIONARY TARIFF, SHOULD SUBMIT APPLICATIONS AS WELL.

THE NEW BASIC RATE FOR TRADE SUPPLY IS $5.50 PER UNIT OF 1,000 GALLONS, AND THE CONCESSIONARY RATE IS $4 PER UNIT.

A WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE CONCESSIONARY RATE APPLIED ONLY TO CONSUMPTION IN EXCESS OF 6,000 UNITS PER FOUR-MONTH BILLING PERIOD, AND WAS SUBJECT TO APPLICANTS MEETING OTHER CRITERIA. THESE OTHER CRITERIA WERE LISTED IN THE ADVISORY LETTERS.

+THE CONCESSION IS AIMED AT GIVING TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN TRADES WHILE THEY INTRODUCE, IF THEY SO WISH, MEASURES TO ECONOMISE IN THE USE OF WATER, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

+THE CONCESSION WILL BE WITHDRAWN ON MARCH 31, 1982. THIS IS THE DATE UP TO WHICH THE NEW RATE SCALE APPLIES.+

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THE CONCESSION WOULD APPLY FROM THE START OF THE BILLING PERIOD FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF A VALID APPLICATION.

HE SAID : +IT IS IMPERATIVE, THEREFORE, THAT LARGE TRADE CONSUMERS APPLY TO THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DELAY COULD LEAD TO LATE APPROVAL AND SOME POSSIBLE LOSS TO THE CONSUMER IN RELATION TO THE CONCESSION.+

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ANY TRADE CONSUMER WHO HAD NOT RECEIVED THE ADVISORY LETTER. OR ANY NEW TRADE CONSUMER WITH AN ANTICIPATED HIGH CONSUMPTION, SHOULD MAKE AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT'S ENQUIRY COUNTER ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF LEIGHTON CENTRE, 77 LEIGHTON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.

FURTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONCESSIONARY TARIFF CAN BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING MR. POON KWAI-KUN ON TELEPHONE 5-7900225.

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