HC Deb 16 March 1961 vol 636 cc1729-30
14. Mr. Thornton

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the date of the appointment of the Hong Kong Electricity Supply Companies Commission, the date of the publication of the Commission's report and recommendations, the dates of the electricity supply companies' counter-proposals and the Governor's rejection thereof, and the final date by which any further counter-proposals from the companies have to be submitted.

Mr. H. Fraser

The appointment of the Commission was announced on 10th June, 1959. Its report was published on 20th January, 1960. Counter-proposals by the two electricity supply companies were put forward on 24th October, 1960, and were rejected by the Government on 27th January, 1961. On 18th February the Hong Kong Government put fresh proposals to the companies, whose reply is expected in the near future.

Mr. Thornton

Is this not a disturbing state of affairs? Is it not a fact that the Commission took six months to find that there was a need to nationalise the electric power supply companies, and is the Minister aware that in evidence to the Commission the power companies made it quite clear that there was no halfway house between private enterprise and public ownership? Are not the Government now going unduly out of their way to find a method by which these private enterprise undertakings which have fallen down on their responsibilities can be allowed to continue?

Mr. Fraser

No, Sir. It is very important that these negotiations should go on, and I hope that there will be a very satisfactory conclusion to them.