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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
The year's work included a large programme to replace existing mains and extend the distribution system. One factor which has caused an increase in the demand for water supplies is the rapid development of the Colony's resettle- ment programme. In Resettlement Areas mains water is provided by means of stand-pipes. The number of regular water consumers increases as more Resettlement Areas are provided, because the squatter areas, which the Resettlement projects release, had only very limited regular means of obtaining water.
Satisfactory progress was made on the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Scheme. The villagers of Tai Lam and Kwan Uk Tei which were in the flooded area of the reservoir were evacuated to Tsuen Wan where a new block of flats had been built to receive them. Filling the reservoir was started early in the summer and by the end of the year it held 1,362 million gallons. Work was completed on the 5 mile long supply tunnel between Tai Lam and Tsuen Wan, the construction of three service reservoirs with a total capacity of 22 million. gallons and on the laying of approx. 45,000 ft. of steel pipes 36", 30" and 24" in diameter. Contracts were let for the erection of three pumping stations, the laying of 19,000 ft. of steel pipes, 48′′ and 36′′ in diameter, and for the con- struction of a length of catchwater 14 miles long.
The site investigations, commenced last year, in connexion with the construction of another dam to flood the Shek Pik valley on the south coast of Lantao, were completed, and the Consulting Engineers' report on the scheme was received.
Electricity. Electricity on the Island is supplied by The Hongkong Electric Company, Ltd., distributing an alter- nating current at 22 kilovolts and 6.6 kilovolts, 3 phase, 50 cycles. Bulk consumers are supplied at 6.6 kilovolts and domestic consumers at 346/200 volts. The amount of electricity generated during 1956 was 272,349,900 kilowatt hours, an increase of 13.2% over the previous year's output.