XN000022-1989-12-21 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1989

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HK SECURES LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS SECURED A LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT.

THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR KENNETH KWOK, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL BUREAU OF WATER CONSERVANCY AND HYDRO-POWER, MR GUAN ZONGZHI.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, AN ADVANCE OF WATER CHARGES AMOUNTING ΤΟ $1,580 MILLION, WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT FOR ENHANCING THE EXISTING EAST RIVER WATER SYSTEM WHICH SUPPLIES WATER TO HONG KONG.

THE ADVANCE WILL BE MADE IN FOUR INSTALMENTS WITH THE FIRST TO BE PROVIDED SOON. THE OTHER THREE INSTALMENTS WILL BE MADE AT THE END OF APRIL IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS.

..

"COMMENCING FROM 1995, PART OF THE WATER SUPPLIED TO HONG KONG WILL BE OFFSET BY THIS ADVANCE AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT WOULD BE FULLY REPAID BY THE YEAR 2002, THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR K.L. WONG, SAID AT A BRIEFING FOLLOWING THE SIGNING CEREMONY.

HE ADDED THAT IN THE RECENT ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT IN OCTOBER, THE MEETING AGREED THAT 31 FROM 1995, THE WATER YEAR WILL BE CHANGED TO JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER AND THE ANNUAL SHUT-DOWN PERIOD FOR MAINTENANCE WILL BE FOR ONE MONTH ONLY IN DECEMBER.

THE MEETING ALSO AGREED TO THE FOLLOWING:

WATER YEAR

ANNUAL TOTAL SUPPLY QUANTITY

(JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 311

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1995 1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

(MILLION CUBIC METRES)

690

720

750

780

810

840

MR WONG SAID THAT WATER PRICES FROM MARCH 1, 1991 ΤΟ THE END OF FEBRUARY 1994 WERE ALSO FIXED. THEY ARE:

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FROM MARCH 1 1991 TO END OF FEBRUARY 1992

HK$1.439 PER CUBIC METRE

FROM MARCH 1

1992 TO END OF FEBRUARY 1993

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HK$1.597 PER CUBIC METRE

FROM MARCH 1, 1993 TO END OF FEBRUARY 1994

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HK$1.772 PER CUBIC METRE

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