18
HONG KONG MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN THE SIXTIES
restrictions on supply, was 156 million gallons. Many miles of new roads have been opened to make industrial operations easier. The second phase of airport development, including a considerable expansion of air cargo facilities which has greatly benefited certain sectors of manufacturing industry, has been finished and the third phase is nearing completion. In the Urban area 152 net acres of formed industrial land were transferred to private hands during the decade, entailing cutting, reclamation and formation of some 1,800 gross acres, the balance being absorbed by the housing, communications, utilities and community uses required to back up the industrial undertakings. In the New Territories 85 acres of formed industrial land have been provided by Government mainly in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung, necessitating a total provision of nearly 800 acres. Also in the New Territories some 325 acres of unformed land and seabed have been disposed of for special industrial purposes including oil storage and electricity production, shipbreaking and boatyards. In total this has been development on the most massive scale and at very great cost.
The private sector has not been idle. Two new and larger electric power stations have been built; in this way consumption- which has increased four-fold since 1959 has easily been satisfied; and there is surplus capacity (or potential) and finance to meet foresee- able demand. The telephone system has undergone an expansion in the last 10 years almost amounting to a revolution; there are now more than 12 telephones for every hundred people. The carrying of passengers by public transport has doubled, the number of goods lorries on the roads trebled. Tonnages loaded and discharged by ocean and river vessels annually have almost doubled. An ocean passenger terminal capable of accommodating two vessels up to 1,000 feet in length at the same time was completed in 1966, adding yet a further pier to Hong Kong's continuing efficient and cheap lighterage facilities in the stream. Warehousing capacity has kept pace with demand throughout the period. A special development of the last five years has been shore-based container facilities.
Labour Policy
The Government's social policies have an important impact on the development of manufacturing industry, most directly in