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The Government published in the Gazette today (May 11) the Waterworks (Amendment) Regulation 2012 to revise 24 fees for services provided under the Waterworks Regulation (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) examination of a water sample;
(i) each attendance for collection of any water sample(s); and
(j) fishing licence issuance.
"In line with the 'user pays' principle, it is the policy of the Government 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 fees will be increased by about 8 per cent to 20 per cent," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.
The Waterworks (Amendment) Regulation 2012 will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 16. Subject to approval by negative vetting, the revised fees will come into effect on August 1, 2012.
Ends/Friday, May 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:55
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