XN000022-1986-12-23 — Page 5

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1986

WIDE-RANGING TALKS ON WATER HELD

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THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AND THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, RETURNED AT THE WEEK-END FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICIALS OF THE GUANGZHOU PROVINCIAL BUREAU OF WATER CONSERVANCY AND ELECTRIC POWER,

THE DISCUSSIONS, HELD IN A FRIENDLY AND CO-OPERATIVE ATMOSPHERE, WERE VIDE-RANGING AND FOCUSSED PRIMARILY ON A REQUEST FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITY FOR AN INCREASE IN WATER FEES AND AN APPROACH FROM THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT FOR AN INCREASE IN DELIVERY OF WATER ON ACCOUNT OF THE UNFAVOURABLE STORAGE POSITION IN HONG KONG.

PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON THE REQUEST FOR AN INGREASE IN THE BASIC UNIT PRICE OF WATER SUPPLIED. WHILE THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL WATER THAT CAN BE PROVIDED THIS SUPPLY PERIOD WAS SOMEWHAT LESS THAN THAT REQUESTED THIS IS PART COMPENSATED FOR BY AN AGREED HIGHER RATE OF DRAW-OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SUPPLY PERIOD STARTING MAY 1, 1987.

ALL EXTRA WATER SUPPLIED TO THE QUANTITIES COVERED BY THE WATER AGREEMENT WILL BE PAID FOR AT A HIGHER RATE BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS INVOLVED IN MAKING THE EXTRA SUPPLY AVAILABLE.

RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE AND COVERING WATER SUPPLY PROPOSALS IN HONG KONG FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DRY SEASON WILL BE MADE TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND, AFTER RATIFICATION BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, A DETAILED ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE.

IN THE MEANTIME THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TRADE CONSUMERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS ARE URGED TO BE AS ECONOMIC AS POSSIBLE IN THE USE OF WATER.

LETTER OF THANKS FOR WEDDING PRESENT

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HRH THE PRINCE ANDREW AND THE DUCHESS OF YORK HAVE THANKED THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR THE CARPET THEY HAD SENT THEM AS THEIR WEDDING PRESENT.

THE DUCHESS OF KENT HAS SENT THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES:

/+WE WERE