XN000022-1988-03-15 — Page 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1988

THE PROPOSAL ALSO SOUGHT TO SET THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO DISCHARGE THE VICARIOUS RESPONSIBILITY AT A FIXED PENALTY OF $100 OR A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2,000 ON CONVICTION AFTER PROSECUTION BY SUMMONS FOR ALL DRIVERS.

THE TAC ALSO LOOKED INTO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND THE POSSIBLE REMEDIAL ALLEVIATE THEM.

PROBLEMS AT MEASURES ΤΟ

RISE IN WATER CHARGES FROM APRIL 1

*

THERE IS TO BE AN INCREASE IN WATER CHARGES FROM APRIL 1, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WATER AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).

HE SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD THIS MORNING APPROVED AN AVERAGE RISE OF SEVEN AND A HALF PER CENT FROM APRIL 1 FOLLOWING THE SIXTH IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL REVIEWS.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT 17 PER CENT OF ALL DOMESTIC CONSUMERS WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY NOTHING FOR THE WATER THEY CONSUMED.

A FURTHER 60 PER CENT WOULD PAY LESS THAN AN ADDITIONAL 50 CENTS PER WEEK.

ONLY 23 PER CENT WOULD PAY MORE THAN 50 CENTS EXTRA PER WEEK AND ONLY SEVEN PER CENT OF THOSE WOULD PAY MORE THAN $1 PER WEEK EXTRA.

AS FOR TRADE USERS, THE MAJORITY WOULD PAY NO MORE CENTS EXTRA PER WEEK.

THAN 50

THE SPOKESMAN SAID CHARGES FOR WATER WERE AIMED AT RECOVERING THE COST OF WATERWORKS OPERATION, AND THE ANNUAL REVIEWS WERE INTENDED TO AVOID MAJOR INCREASES IN CHARGES AT ONE TIME.

"IN DOLLAR TERMS THE MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE ADDED TO THEIR WATER BILLS HE SAID.

+

WOULD

HE SAID SALT WATER FOR FLUSHING WOULD REMAIN FREE AND THE SAME QUANTITY OF FRESH WATER FOR FLUSHING

CONTINUK TO BE PROVIDED FREE.

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30 UNITS

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IMPACT ON BUSINESS OPERATING

THE INCREASE WOULD NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS AS WATER CHARGES REPRESENTED A SMALL PART OF THE COSTS OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

THE FOLLOWING