re-introduced for domestic power making the charge 14 cents/13.3 cents per unit. The charges for meter rents were reduced on 1st July, 1948 to their pre-war scales. Special rates are quoted for bulk supply of power to industrial users. It is anticipated that the demand for light and power will be increased during 1949, owing to the high level of factory and residential building activity in the Colony. Costs of coal and other materials and services remain extremely high being from 300% to 500% above pre-war levels.
Electricity in Kowloon and the New Territories is supplied by the China Light and Power Co., Ltd. Throughout the past year there has been an expansion in the industrial use of electricity when no less than 279 additional factories were connected to the Company's mains. Domestic consumption of current has increased, street lighting has been repaired in many places and large scale building operations are in progress which will raise still higher the demands for electricity. Plan have therefore been made for a wide extension of the Company's distribution system including the construction of at least two new sub-stations.
Erection of a new 20,000 k.w. high grade pressure turbo alternator has enabled the total generating capacity of the station to be raised from 30,500 k.w. at the end of 1947 to 50,500 k.w. by the end of 1948. The boiler plant capacity is 460,000 lbs. per hour, most of the boilers being operated on oil fuel. Some of the equipment for a new oil-fired high pressure boiler has arrived which it is hoped will be in operation by the end of 1949 and will raise the boiler plant capacity to 660,000 lbs. per hour. An additional 20,000 k.w. turbo alternator and an additional 200,000 lbs. oil-fired boiler are on order but are not expected until the second half of 1952.
reduced
The price of the Company's lighting current was from 40 cents at the end of 1947 to 32 cents at the end of 1948 while the price of power was reduced from 18 cents to 16 cents. The price of current for cooking and heating remained steady at 13 cents. Rents for meters have been reduced.
Gas.
Gas is supplied on both sides of the harbour by the Hong Kong and China Gas Co., which was first established in the Colony in 1861.
The repair of plant and mains damaged and neglected during the Japanese occupation will, it is anticipated, be completed within the next year if materials can be supplied by manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The rapid expansion of the population since the re-occupation of the Colony has put a considerable strain. on the company's resources, and the demand for gas is still in-
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