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10.
X
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A report published by the Central Intelligence Agency of America, dated November, 1976, on China: The Coal Industry, shows that China is the world's third largest coal producer (behind the United States and Soviet Union) and accounts for roughly one-eighth of world coal production and is in immediate need of foreign capital equipment to modernise its mines. Paragraphs 47 and 48 of the Report read as follows:
47.
48.
"A surge in contracts to purchase foreign coal mining equipment
in 1973 and 1974 has provided a steady stream of imports in recent years. At least US $116 million in major contracts was signed for in 1973-74. Most of this equipment has now been delivered, however, and additional purchases are needed soon to continue modernising the industry. Since 1974 the Chinese have continued to purchase large numbers of spare parts for mining machinery and to buy bulldozers and other excavation equipment used in both mining and construction. Negotiations for large mining machinery also have continued, but no new major {
orders have been placed.
零件
"China s preference for the long-wall mining method has given the
United Kingdom an advantage in selling fully mechanized coal face equipment. The British use this method extensively in their own country, while the United States employs the room and pillar method in most underground mines. Much of the equipment purchased from the United States is for open pit mining a technique the Chinese appear interested in expanding. Most of the smaller orders involving excavating, leveling, tamping and boring machinery; steel tubing and spare parts are obtained from Japan. '
When the new "A" Station is fully operational with four 350 MW units in service, the coal consumption will be of the order of three and a half million tons with a revenue expenditure of approximately £100 million per annum.
I believe that a major coal contract with China would be of considerable bene- fit to all parties. It would also assist in laying the foundations for a solution of Hong Kong's long-term problems.
A feasibility study has now been commissioned by the Hong Kong Government into the Joint Production of Water and Electricity. The present concept being that the de-salination plant should be integral with the new Power Station.
contd/.....