TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 90

- 5 -

bodies and pressure groups find themselves always "clamouring at the wrong doors or petitioning the wrong departments".

The most contentious issue concerning the provisions

is the concept of "permitted return". There are seven different levels of permitted return for the existing seven

schemes of control.

The Government unit responsible for the monitoring of

public utilities has a workforce of only five. Given the differences in the schemes of control and in the monitoring

procedures, strict enforcement would not be possible even if

they were supermen.

With this in mind, I hope that, while considering the Consultancy report, the Government would conduct an overall

review of the policies towards the monitoring of all privately

owned public utilities and formulate a uniform and comprehensive system for new schemes of control. Moreover, for the purpose of public accountability, either a special committee should be set up or UMELCO Members should be

appointed to assist in the review and monitoring of public

utilities. This would help to remove existing anomalies and to

relieve consumers of their worries.

Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.

Page 90Page 91