The Government published in the Gazette today (July 12) the Waterworks (Amendment) Regulation 2013 to revise 24 fees for services provided under the Waterworks Regulations (Cap 102A) of the Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102).
The revision covers the following categories:
(a) making a connection to the water mains and installing a fire service or inside service on land held by the Government, including reinstatement of the ground surface;
(b) reconnecting a fire service or inside service;
(c) providing and installing a meter;
(d) providing a meter;
(e) resealing a fire service or meter;
(f) testing a meter or a private check meter (including removal and refixing);
(g) plumber's licence issuance, renewal and examination;
(h) fishing licence issuance;
(i) examination of a water sample; and
(j) each attendance for collection of any water sample(s).
A spokesman for the Development Bureau said that in line with the "user pays" principle, it is the Government's policy that fees should in general be set at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of providing the services. In order to achieve full cost recovery gradually and avoid a steep fee increase, the existing 24 fees for services will be increased by about 5.9 per cent to 20.1 per cent.
The Waterworks (Amendment) Regulation 2013 will be tabled at the Legislative Council on July 17. Subject to approval by negative vetting, the revised fees will come into effect on December 1, 2013.
Ends/Friday, July 12, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:01
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