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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Sales of sand through the sand monopoly depots, which are also operated by the quarries section, showed a rapid increase towards the end of the year. The total volume sold in 1976 was 20 per cent higher than in the previous year. The supply of sand manufactured locally from crushed rock, as opposed to marine sand dredged from the sea bed, was introduced in October. The supply will be sufficient to meet about 25 per cent of the total demand.
Public Utilities
Electricity
Hong Kong Island and the neighbouring islands of Ap Lei Chau and Lamma are supplied with electricity by the Hongkong Electric Company while Kowloon and the New Territories—including Lantau and a number of outlying islands-receive their supply from the China Light and Power Company. The island of Cheung Chau is served by the Cheung Chau Electric Company. In addition, minor enterprises such as some village co-operatives produce current for certain remote localities.
The three companies are investor-owned, and do not operate_under-franchise. However, the government does exercise a measure of profit control over the two main undertakings.
Generation of electricity for Kowloon, the New Territories and several outlying islands is carried out partly by the China Light and Power Company and partly by Peninsula Electric Power Company-an enterprise financed 60 per cent by an affiliate of Exxon Corporation and 40 per cent by China Light. Peninsula owns generating stations' on Tsing Yi Island (1 362 MW) and at Hok Un (240 MW). The operation of these stations is in the hands of China Light, which also has its own stations at Hok Un (410 MW) and a number of diesel sets (total 6 MW). Additional capacity of 200 MW on Tsing Yi is due to be installed in 1977.
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Hongkong Electric has generating stations at North Point (271 MW) and Ap Lei Chau (631 MW). The installed capacity of Cheung Chau Electric Company is 5 MW, but this will be increased by a further 2 MW when a new diesel generating set is installed in 1977. In all, the three undertakings have a combined capacity of 2 925 MW.
Transmission is carried out at 132 kV and 66 kV, while distribution is effected mainly at 11 kV and 346 volts. The supply is 50 hertz alternating current, normally at 200 volts single-phase or 346 volts three-phase. For bulk consumers, supply is avail- able at 33 kV and 11 kV. Safety aspects are covered by an Electricity Supply Ordinance and subsidiary legislation.
Main electricity statistics for 1976, as well as electricity sales figures for the years 1974-6, are shown in Appendix 34.
Gas
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company supplies towngas to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The supply is available throughout the