§ 46. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider the supply of free water to the poorer people of Hong Kong in view of the recent 50 per cent. increase in the water rate.
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§ Mr. Anthony RoyleFrom April, 1971, the first 2,000 gallons per quarter consumed through each domestic meter are supplied free and the new rate of Hong Kong $3 per thousand gallons will be applied only to consumption in excess of that minimum. About half of the million or so people living in resettlement estates pay a flat rent which covers water supply. They will, therefore, pay no more. For the remainder who pay separately for water, the average monthly water bill will be reduced by about 30 cents.
§ 69. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, in view of the fact that the Hong Kong Government have a current budget surplus of 600 million Hong Kong dollars, it has been considered necessary to raise the fees in English-speaking schools for all secondary pupils by £100 per year.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleIt has long been the policy of the Hong Kong Government to bring into line the subsidies provided to various educational institutions, and it has been necessary to raise the fees in English language schools because the cost of running those schools is over three times the cost of running the equivalent Chinese language schools.