XN000022-1996-10-02 — Page 8

7-

Policy Address on line

The 1996 Policy address and a comprehensive set of associated documents are available today (Wednesday), on line, on the Government's Internet homepage.

The government homepage the Government Information Centre (GIC) - on the World Wide Web http://www.info.gov.hk offers visitors:

Policy Address

Policy Commitments

Legislative Programme

Progress Report

Hong Kong Transition: Main Point

Policy Address and Policy Commitments - Highlights

The material is available in both English and Chinese.

Since the launch of GIC in December last year, more than 256,000 users have visited the index page.

End

Study on TES Review commissioned

The Environmental Protection Department today (Wednesday) commissioned a study to review the Trade Effluent Surcharge (TES) which is payable by 30 trades and industries discharging waste water into the public sewerage system.

"Since April 1, 1995, a sewage charging scheme which

comprises a sewage charge and a TES has been introduced so that everyone in the community contributes directly to the operating cost of sewage services they use," acting Assistant Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Malcolm Broom, said.

The sewage charge is a general charge payable by all water consumers discharging waste water into the public sewer. It is charged at a flat rate of $1.2 per cubic metre of water consumed.