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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
is at present planning a 132 kV integrated transmission network, part of which in the rural areas will be carried on overhead lines. Secondary distribution is at 346 volts three-phase and 200 volts single-phase with the frequency stabilized at 50 cycles per second.
During 1966 the maximum demand on the North Point station was 201.0 MW, an increase over 1965 of 8.7 per cent. The amount of electricity generated was 927 million kWh, an increase of 11.9 per cent over the previous year. The number of consumers increased by 13.0 per cent to 155,434 during 1966 and sales of electricity amounted to 815.9 million kWh, an increase of 11.8 per cent. This was made up of 187.5 million kWh lighting; 5.7 million kWh public lighting; 196 million kWh bulk power; and 426.7 million kWh domestic and commercial power.
Charges for electricity range from 28 cents to 15.4 cents per unit for lighting and 12 cents to 11.4 cents per unit for power. Special rates are quoted for the bulk supply of industrial power.
The China Light and Power Company Limited supplies electricity to Kowloon and the New Territories, including Lantau and a number of other outlying islands. The demand for power has risen rapidly over the years; in 1966 the peak load was 400 MW, which was 18 per cent more than in 1965 and 129 per cent more than in 1961. The generating station at Hok Yuen, Kowloon Bay, has a capacity of 542.5 MW. During 1966 three 60 MW units were commissioned. These included the first two 60 MW units owned by the Peninsula Electric Power Company Limited, formed at the beginning of 1965 to provide additional generation facilities for China Light's system and owned 60 per cent by Esso and 40 per cent by China Light, capital being provided by the two partners in the same ratio. Two further 60 MW sets are being constructed at Hok Yuen, which will have an ultimate combined capacity of 662.5 MW. China Light's construction team is now erecting, on behalf of Peninsula Electric, a new power station on the south shore of Tsing Yi Island. Two 120 MW units for this station are on order, and are due to be in operation by 1969. Long-term plans provide for four further 120 MW sets, and larger units thereafter.
China Light's main transmission and distribution system is con- tinually growing in line with additional load requirements. A big step forward was taken in April 1966 when the first 132 kV line