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Raising Water Price is an Inescapable Part of Demand-Management

提高水價是一個不可避免的部分需求管理

 

PRESS RELEASE

新 聞 稿

 

Hong Kong 24 May, 2010 (Monday) – Raising water price is inevitable for Hong Kong in order to manage water resources better. So far, the HKSAR Government hesitates to increase water tariffs because of expected resistance from legislators.. 為了更有效地管理香港的水資源，增加水費是無可避免的。然而，由於預期立法會議員的反對，特區政府迄今未敢增加水費。

Non-profit think tank Civic Exchange believes it is time for officials to disclose the full picture of the risks Hong Kong faces and what it takes to ensure long-term supply for the whole of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) to which Hong Kong socio-economic circumstances are intricately tied. 思匯政策研究所認為，特區政府當下不但需要向公眾全面說明香港現正面對的水資源危機，還要讓市民意識到政府所需要採納的措施，以確保與香港社會經濟具有密切關聯的珠三角能獲得長期穩定的食水供應。

 

Civic Exchange’s research shows:

思匯政策研究所研究表示：

1.       When looking at water, Hong Kong must consider not only the Dongjiang (which supplied 76.1% in 2009) but the whole of the Pearl River Basin because the health of the basin affects agriculture, husbandry, power generation and industry in the PRD – an area of vital socio-economic importance to Hong Kong. 在探討水資源問題時，香港所需考慮的不僅是東江本身（東江於2009年為香港提供76.1%淡水），還需考慮整個珠江流域，因為珠江流域狀況的好與壞，會影響珠三角的農業、畜牧業、發電和工業的運作，對香港造成重要的社會及經濟影響。

2.       As regards the Dongjiang, its water is shared by many under an allocation plan (figure), and with rising demand among the users, everyone (including Hong Kong) will have to become much more efficient in the use of water. Households make up the largest group of water users in Hong Kong. 現在不同城市正根據分配計劃享用東江水，然而，由於用戶對水的需求不斷增加，而住宅用水是香港最大的用水戶，每一個城市（包括香港）必須更有效地使用水資源。

3.       China’s national policy is to promote demand management and water tariffs are being raised continuously to show the true value of water and the cost of delivering water services. The price for water in Hong Kong should not remain at current levels[1] when mainland cities continue to raise tariffs otherwise Hong Kong (China’s richest city) will become an anomaly. 現時國家的政策是提倡管理對用水的需求以及逐步提高水費，以顯示水的真正價值和供水服務的成本。由於國內其他城市陸續提高水費，香港的淡水價格不應持續停留在目前的水平1，否則香港（中國最富裕的城市）將成為一個異常的地方。

 

“Hong Kong people need to understand users on the mainland will be paying more and more for water as a result of policy to improve water resource management. When the current water supply contract is renegotiated in 2011, the amount will likely be higher and the price further in the future will be higher still” said Christine Loh, CEO of Civic Exchange. [2] 思匯政策研究所行政總監陸恭蕙表示：「香港市民需要了解，為改善水資源管理的政策，內地用戶將要付出更高的水費。至2011年現時合約期滿並需重新進行談判之時，我們需付的金額將可能會更高」。2

Under pressure from political parties, legislators and vested interests, the HKSAR Government may continue to heavily subsidize water charges [3] although for a city as rich as Hong Kong, it would be more appropriate for tariffs to reflect their true costs that include scarcity, as well as delivering and treating raw water. 在政黨、立法會議員和既得利益者的的壓力下，特區政府雖然可以選擇繼續為如此富裕的香港大量補貼水費3，可是，以合適的價格反映水的真實價值，包括水的短缺、輸送及處理則更為適合。

 

Comparing water tariffs between Hong Kong and mainland cities, Hong Kong’s tariffs look high by comparison but with 12 m3 of free (subsidized) water every accounting period of 4 months, 17% of household in fact pay nothing for water. This same group also pays nothing for sewage treatment as well. Moreover, among developed economies, Hong Kong charges very low tariffs. 比較香港與內地城市的水費，香港的水費看起來比較高，但其實每季度4個月中就有12立方米是免費（補貼）的，17％的香港家庭實際上無需支付任何水費，這一群人亦沒有為污水處理支付任何費用。在經濟發達的城市當中，香港的水費實在是非常低。

 

For further information please contact  如有查詢，請聯絡：

 

Christine Loh, CEO of Civic Exchange 思匯政策研究所行政總監陸恭蕙

Tel 電話: 28930213 / Email 電郵: cloh@civic-exchange.org

 

Michelle Wong, Events and Communications Manager of Civic Exchange 活動項目及傳訊經理黃潔文

Tel 電話: 36222301; 93615947  / Email 電郵: mwong@civic-exchange.org

 

References 參考文獻:

 

Falling Up! Water pricing must meet true costs

(Published by CLSA) May 2010

(里昂證券發行) 2010年5月

http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/100520CLSAwater.pdf (English only只有英文)

 

Liquid Assets: Water Security and Management in the Pearl River Basin and Hong Kong

(Published by Civic Exchange) December 2009

流動資產:珠江流域和香港水資源安全和管理

(思匯政策研究所發行) 2009年12月

http://www.civic-exchange.org/chi/upload/files/091204LiquidAssetsChi.pdf (Chinese 中文)

http://www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/files/091204LiquidAssets.pdf (English 英文)


[1] There is a 4-tier tariff system in HK where the 1st tier of 12 m3 is free, rising to HK$4.15, HK$6.45 and HK$9.05 calculated on a 4 months basis. Sewage charges are added on top, where also the 1st 12 m3 is free. Current payment is HK$1.57 m3, rising to $2.92 in 2017. 香港的 4級收費制度，以4個月為計算基礎，由第一層首 12立方米免費，上升至第二、第三及第四層的港幣 4.15元、 6.45元及9.05元計算。於用水量之上再添加排污費，首12立方米亦是免費的，其後每立方米將由現時的港幣 1.57元上升到2017年的2.92元。

[2]   Under the current contract that runs from 2009 to 2011, Hong Kong receives an annual guaranteed maximum quantity of 1.1 billion m3 at an annual cost of HK$2.96 billion, HK$3.14 billion and HK$3.34 billion. These charges represent a cumulative increase of HK$1.96 billion more than for the period 2006-2008. This increase has been attributed to a stronger RMB but also price inflation. 根據現時由2009年至2011 年的協議，香港於2009年、2010年及2011 年分別付出29.6億港元、31.4億港元及33.4億港元便可保證每年獲得最多 11億立方米的供水。與前一份協議（2006年-2008年）相比，這些數字表示累計增加19.6億港元，原因是通脹和人民幣升值。

[3]   The government currently subsidizes water use – 17% of domestic accounts pay nothing because the first 12 m3 of water is free, and 30% pay only HK$1-HK$25/month. 目前，特區政府補貼港人用水 - 17％的住宅用戶不需支付任何水費，因為首12立方米的水是免費的，而只有30％的住宅用戶每月只付港幣1元至25元的水費。 

Civic Exchange
Rm701, Hoseinee House, 69 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, China
Tel: (852) 2893-0213 Fax: (852) 3105-9713 Website: http://www.civic-exchange.org
Email: mwong@civic-exchange.org