XN000022-1983-04-18 — Page 6

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1983

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CONCESSIONARY WATER CHARGES OFFERED

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THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT LETTERS HAD BEEN SENT TO LARGE TRADE CONSUMERS ADVISING THEM TO APPLY FOR THE CONCESSIONARY TARIFF WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1, 1983.

THE BASIC RATE FOR TRADE SUPPLY IS $7.60 PER UNIT OF 1 000 GALLONS AND THE CONCESSIONARY RATE IS $6.40 PER UNIT.

THE CONCESSIONARY RATE APPLIES ONLY TO CONSUMPTION IN EXCESS OF 6 000 UNITS PER FOUR-MONTH BILLING PERIOD OR WHERE WATER COSTS AT $7.60 PER UNIT CONSTITUTE THREE PER CENT OR MORE OF TOTAL OPERATING COSTS. THIS IS SUBJECT TO APPLICANTS MEETING OTHER CRITERIA DETAILED IN THE ADVISORY LETTER.

THE CONCESSION IS AIMED AT GIVING TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN TRADES WHICH INTRODUCE MEASURES TO ECONOMISE IN THE USE OF WATER, AND WILL BE WITHDRAWN ON MARCH 31, 1984.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CONCESSION WOULD APPLY FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE BILLING PERIOD FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF THE VALID APPLICATION BY THE DEPARTMENT.

+ IT IS IMPERATIVE, THEREFORE, THAT LARGE TRADE CONSUMERS SHOULD APPLY ON OR BEFORE JULY 30, 1983 OTHERWISE THE IR APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED, HE SAID.

ANY TRADE CONSUMER WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED AN ADVISORY LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT, BUT WHO CONSIDERS THAT HIS WATER CONSUMPTION HAD INCREASED TO A LEVEL WHICH MIGHT QUALIFY HIM FOR THE CONCESSION (OR ANY NEW CONSUMER ANTICIPATING HIGH CONSUMPTION) SHOULD MAKE AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONCESSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE COLLECTED FROM THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT'S ENQUIRY CENTRES ON THE 11TH FLOOR, LEIGHTON CENTRE, 77 LEIGHTON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, OR ARGYLE STREET DEPÓT, KOWLOON.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONCESSIONARY TARIFF PLEASE CONTACT MR PETER CHAN, TELEPHONE NO. 5-7900348.

MORE SCHOOLS MAY GET COMPUTER STUDIES *****

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS CONSIDERING EXTENDING COMPUTER STUDIES TO OTHER SCHOOLS FOLLOWING FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM PUPILS AND SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT SCHEME INTRODUCED LAST SEPTEMBER.

THIS PROPOSAL, HOWEVER, WILL DEPEND ON THE RESULTS OF A FULL EVALUATION REPORT AT THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FINAL POLICY APPROVAL.

/+THE COMPUTER