PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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The Cheung Chau Electric Company Limited supplies electricity to the island of Cheung Chau, which contains some small industries and a population of fisherfolk who originally founded the company as a community project in 1913. Now operated by commercial in- terests, the company provides an electricity supply on a 50 cycle, three-phase, four-wire system of 200/346 volts for domestic, com- mercial and industrial purposes.
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited supplies gas to domestic, commercial and industrial customers on both sides of the harbour. Gas production is centred at Ma Tau Kok in Kowloon, and Hong Kong Island is supplied by means of underwater mains across the harbour. Town gas is available in all urban areas on the island and the mainland as well as in adjacent districts. It is also available in the industrial towns of Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan. Liquefied petroleum gas (or bottled gas) is offered to customers who are unable to avail themselves of the normal town gas supply.
To ensure that a satisfactory standard in gas installation work is maintained, the company itself controls this activity using the ser- vices of its own installation department. In addition to answering normal maintenance calls the company provides an emergency service throughout the 24 hours. Gas is sold on a thermal basis (1 therm=100,000 British thermal units) and the calorific value of a cubic foot of gas is 455 British thermal units. It should be noted however that in the industrial town of Tsuen Wan, where a new plant has been commissioned independent of the main works, the calorific value is 650 British thermal units per cubic foot.
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The gas tariff incorporates a standing charge which is dependent upon the size of meter installed. This standing charge includes the cost of the first three therms of gas consumed. The scale of charges is as follows:
HK$10.60 or $24.10
First 3 therms
Next 7 therms (up to Next 40 therms (up to
10 therms)
2.86 per therm
50 therms)
2.81
Next 75 therms (up to
125 therms)
2.74
""
,
Next 125 therms (up to
250 therms)
2.62
""
Next 250 therms (up to
500 therms)
2.51
Next 500 therms (up to 1,000 therms) Consumption over 1,000 therms
2.40
59
2.30