THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1982
*NOT POSSIBLE TO FREEZE ELECTRICITY TARIFF INCREASES' *******
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO FREEZE THE INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY TARIFFS DUE TO TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1.
THERE HAS BEEN MUCH PRESSURE TO FREEZE OR DEFER THESE INCREASES, AND THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE REQUESTS HAD BEEN GIVEN THE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.
HE SAID THE ANNOUNCED INCREASES HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ONLY AFTER THE MOST CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE FULL FACTS AND FIGURES,
*THE FINANCING PLANS ON WHICH THE INCREASES WERE BASED HAD BEEN EXAMINED AGAIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL AND REMAINED VALID, HE ADDED.
+THE INCREASES WERE THUS BOTH NECESSARY AND JUSTIFIED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN RELIABLE AND SUFFICIENT ELECTRICITY SUPPLY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.+
IN EXPLAINING THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL AGAIN, THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THESE SCHEMES WERE LONG-TERM, LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE CONTRACTS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANIES. THEY WERE ENTERED INTO AFTER THE IR TERMS HAD BEEN EXAMINED AND APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WHICH TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE TOTAL INTERESTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
*THIS MEANS NOT ONLY THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF CONSUMERS BUT ALSO THE IR REQUIREMENTS FOR YEARS AHEAD, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
LONG-TERM SCHEMES OF CONTROL ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE POWER COMPANIES MUST ACCEPT LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS. ANY CHANGES TO THE SCHEMES WOULD THUS PUT THOSE PLANS IN JEOPARDY.
+WE CANNOT LOOK ONLY AT PRESENT AND SHORT-TERM PROBLEMS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN THE RECENT DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE POWER COMPANIES' CHARGES COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH THOSE IN NEIGHBOURING AREAS IN THE REGION. THE AVERAGE ELECTRICITY COST PER UNIT FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONSUMERS IS LOWER IN HONG KONG THAN IN SEVERAL OF THESE COUNTRIES. AND THE SUPPLY IS VERY DEPENDABLE.
IN HONG KONG THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING THE COMPANIES FALLS FAIRLY AND SQUARELY ON THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE COMPANIES HAD SERVED HONG KONG WELL. WE HAVE ENJOYED A RELIABLE SERVICE AT A REASONABLE PRICE AT A TIME OF RAPIDLY RISING DEMAND.+
THE GOVERNM
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