ENG-2003 — Page 288

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in Kowloon West and East, Hong Kong Island, Pok Fu Lam (including the Cyberport), Tseung Kwan O, Ngong Ping, Sha Tin, Tai Po, North District, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and North Lantau (for Hong Kong Disneyland). Major improvement works on the sea water supply system for Central Kowloon and Tsuen Wan continue.

Continuing planning work is in hand to increase the water supply capacity to meet demands from new developments and redevelopment in Central, Wan Chai, western and south-western areas on Hong Kong Island; Kwun Tong in Kowloon; and Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Yuen Long, Hung Shui Kiu, North Lantau, Tseung Kwan O, and the north-eastern and north-western New Territories. Major design work is focused on the provision of additional service reservoirs, pumping stations and water supply networks in North Point, Quarry Bay, Wan Chai; Kowloon East, West Kowloon Reclamation, Cha Kwo Ling, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Tin Shui Wai, Tseung Kwan O and North Lantau.

As part of the strategy to encourage proper maintenance of internal plumbing systems in buildings, a voluntary Fresh Water Plumbing Quality Maintenance Recognition Scheme was launched in July 2002. The scheme received encouraging public support and more than 870 certificates of compliance were issued under the scheme, benefiting more than 190 000 customers.

Water Accounts and Customer Relations

The number of consumer accounts continues to rise at a rate of about 1.6 per cent per year and the consumer account base expanded to approximately 2.58 million accounts at year-end. To provide greater convenience to customers, applications for change of consumership, change of mailing address, and change of water bill language for a domestic account can be made online. The Water Supplies Department continues to act as an agent to collect general sewage charges on behalf of the Drainage Services Department.

To heighten both customer service and operational efficiency, the department rolled out the first stage of its Customer Care and Billing System (CCBS) in December and the entire system will be completed by the end of 2004.

Electricity

The Hongkong Electric Company Limited (HEC) supplies Hong Kong Island and the neighbouring islands of Ap Lei Chau and Lamma; CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) supplies Kowloon and the New Territories, including Lantau and several outlying islands. The supply to consumers is at 50Hz alternating current while the voltage is 220 volts single-phase and 380 volts three-phase.

The two supply companies are investor-owned. The Government monitors their performance through mutually agreed Scheme of Control Agreements. Current agreements with CLP Power and HEC came into effect on October 1, 1993, and January 1, 1994, respectively. Both will last for 15 years. The first and second five- yearly interim reviews were completed in early 1999 and late 2003, respectively. The agreements require each company to seek the approval of the Government for certain aspects of their financial plans, including projected tariff levels. The agreements do not grant the companies any exclusive rights. They are not franchises, nor do they define a supply area for either company or exclude new entrants to the market.