pipe, cast locally, was also completed, together with a new pumping station required to pump filtered water from the new filters along the new Bowen Road pipe line to Bowen Road, Albany and Elliot Service Reservoirs. The new pump- ing station contains both diesel and electrically driven pumps. New slow sand filters at Wong Nei Chong, to provide filtered instead of unfiltered water for the Shouson Hill area, were completed and put into use. Quarters for the operating staff were built at both the new Eastern and Wong Nei Chong Filters. Plans were also prepared and orders placed for new rapid gravity filters for the Stanley area. The prepara- tion of schemes for the modernisation of pumping stations and for the provision of badly needed stand-by pumping plant was continued. Plans were also prepared for the difficult work involved in the repair of a leaking scour valve at Jubilee Dam and in the replacement of a damaged length of one of the 21" diameter cross harbour pipe lines. Both these works were in hand.
Much consideration was also given throughout the year to schemes for supplying the Colony with water in the event of an emergency.
Electricity
Electricity on the Island of Hong Kong is supplied by the Hong Kong Electric Co., Ltd. As was expected in 1948, the rapid development of both residential and industrial properties resulted in a considerable and sustained increase in the demand for electricity, which shows no signs of falling off. Output at the present time has increased by 40% over 1948 levels and the peak load has risen from 22,000 k.w. to 29,000 k.w. Satisfactory progress has been maintained in the expansion of the undertaking to meet the increased demand in the Colony. New plant installed at the North Point generating station during 1949 includes one 15,000 k.w. turbo-alternator and it is expected that a second 15,000 k.w. set will be in commission during 1950 which will increase the generating capacity to 72,500 k.w. Two additional 75,000/98,000 lb./hr. high pressure boilers will be installed and working next year which will be dual fired by oil or coal, giving a total steaming capacity of 675,000 lb./hr. Generat- ing efficiency has been greatly assisted by the conversion of the major part of the boiler plant to oil firing.
Developments are also in hand to augment the distribu- tion of electricity from the North Point generating station. A high tension feeder from the generating station to a new substation in Ice House Street is in process of being laid, through which electricity will be transmitted at 22,000 volts for subsequent distribution as required to the central district of Victoria and other points on the western half of the
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