XN000022-1991-05-01 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991

27

SHW ON ELDERLY TRAVEL CONCESSIONS

"CONCESSIONARY

THE SECRETARY

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH ON ADJOURNMENT DEBATE : FARES SYSTEM FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS OF 65 OF AGE" BY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON MRS ELIZABETH WONG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SIR,

IT IS QUITE EVIDENT FROM THE QUALITY OF THOSE SHORTEN SPEEDY DEBATE THIS EVENING THAT WE IN HONG KONG DO HONOUR AND RESPECT ELDERLY MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I SUPPORT ALL THAT HAS BEEN SAID. CLEARLY,

NEED TO SET PRIORITIES AND EXPLORE WAYS AND MEANS TO ENHANCE THE MOBILITY OF OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS. MY COLLEAGUES AND I IN THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENDEAVOUR TO PURSUE THIS ENERGETICALLY IN THE LIGHT OF MEMBERS' VIEWS.

MIGHT I ADD, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, SIR, THAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR HONOURABLE MEMBERS' WISE COUNSEL AND AS A FUTURE BENEFICIARY, I THANK THEM ALL IN ADVANCE.

INFORMATION ON FEE REFUNDS LISTED

THE NUMBER OF WATER DEPOSIT REFUND CASES OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT INCREASED FROM 67,498 IN 1988/89 TO 73,990 IN 1989/90.

THIS INFORMATION WAS CONTAINED IN A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, TO A QUESTION BY THE PETER WONG HONG-YUEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HON

IN THE REPLY, MR MACLEOD SAID THE TIME TAKEN TO EFFECT REFUND WAS FOUR WEEKS.

THE NUMBER OF WATER DEPOSIT REFUND CASES IN 1987/88 WAS 64,247.

AS FOR WATER CHARGES REFUND CASES, THE NUMBER DROPPED FROM 791. IN 1988/89 TO 770 IN 1989/90. THE NUMBER IN 1987/88 WAS 680. THE TIME TAKEN TO EFFECT REFUNDS WAS ONE TO TWO WEEKS.

IN

1989/90,

CONNEXION/INSTALLATION

THE

NUMBER

OF

REFUND

CASES

POR FEE DECREASED TO 346 FROM 552 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE NUMBER FOR 1987/88 WAS 501. TWO TO THREE WEEKS WAS REQUIRED TO EFFECT REFUNDS.

IN ADDITION, THE NUMBER OF REFUND CASES WAS 28, 27 AND 34 FOR RECONNECTION FEE IN 1987/88, 1988/89 AND 1989/90 RESPECTIVELY AND 486, 292 AND 276 FOR WATER TEST FEE OVER THE SAME THREE-YEAR PERIOD. TAKEN TO EFFECT REFUNDS FOR BOTH ITEMS WAS FOUR WEEKS.

TIME

/AS FOR