XN000022-1986-11-06 — Page 21

19

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1986

IN THIS REGARD, HE SAID, THERE WAS A NEED TO ESTABLISH AN ENERGY COUNCIL.

MR LAI CALLED INTO QUESTION THE EXISTING POLICY GOVERNING THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL CONCERNING THE TWO ELECTRICITY COMPANIES.

HE SAID THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL DID NOT PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR THE POWER COMPANIES TO ADOPT MORE EFFICIENT USE OF GENERATING CAPACITY.

MR LA SUGGESTED THAT THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL BE MODIFIED TO ENCOURAGE INCREASINGLY EFFICIENT USE OF THE POWER COMPANIES' INFRASTRUCTURE.

+THESE MEASURES AIMING AT MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THE PRESENT FACILITIES MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVELY CARRIED OUT IF THE GOVERNMENT SETS UP AN ENERGY COUNCIL,+ MR LAI SAID.

THE ENERGY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY WOULD BE TO OVERSEE THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ENERGY USE AND ENERGY NEEDS.

+THIS COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL THAT WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN FUTURE ENERGY GOALS DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENERGY ECONOMY SYSTEM, VARIOUS PLANS, INCLUDING AMENDING APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES SUCH AS THE BUILDING ORDINANCE, TO STIMULATE USERS' INTERESTS IN ENERGY ECONOMY.

+MOREOVER, IT MAY SERVE AS A CENTRAL MONITORING BODY WHEREBY THE PRESENT NEED OF OVERSEEING THE RETAIL OIL PRICES WHICH FALLS UPON THE SHOULDER OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE FUTURE REQUIREMENT TO SUPERVISE THE WORKING OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT WILL BE MET, HE SAID.

MR LAI ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING HONG KONG'S TECHNOLOGICAL BASE BY A CO-ORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF APPLIED RESEACH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCREASED FUNDING TO INDUSTRY SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS TO PROMOTE THE APPLICATION OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES, TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF MARKETING CAPABILITY AIMED AT INCREASING THE VALUE OF EXPORTS.

TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF POLITICAL REFORM, MR LAI SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD NOT LIVED UP TO DEMOCRATIC IDEALS.

HE BELIEVED THAT ONE OF THE WAYS OF IMPROVING THE PRESENT SYSTEM WAS TO HAVE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE COUNCIL.

+ IT IS DISHEARTENING TO HEAR PROMINENT PEOPLE VOICING RESERVATIONS ABOUT OPENING UP THE COUNCIL, HE SAID.

/+WE HAVE