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PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
had been substantially solved. Because of the low rainfall recorded in the early part of the wet season and the subsequent need to impose restrictions, all six units were brought into operation by September, 1977. To achieve this, it was necessary to enter into service contracts for the provision of operational and maintenance staff while the recruitment of permanent staff proceeded. The assembly of information on future 'mothballing' continued. Tentative works programmes for future desaltlng projects were finalised and investigations on various desalting processes, plant designs and types of fuel continued in an effort to assess the most economical means of producing fresh water from the sea.
In addition to the major water schemes, work continued on other projects designed to meet increasing demands in existing and new areas of development. During the year, planning studies on the improvement of water supplies to Ap Lei Chau, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Tai O and Sai Kung were completed. Further water supply proposals to cater for development in the new towns and market towns were formulated, including new systems to serve the high level areas to the north of Sha Tin. Detailed studies were made on the development of two minor catchments one to the north-east of Plover Cove and the other in the River Ganges Basin. Design works on new water supply systems for the Fei Ngo Shan and Sai Kung areas was put in hand. Construction work for new water supply systems for Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan new towns, as well as those for the Tai Po Industrial Estate and Tsing Yi, progressed steadily to keep pace with the general development programme. On Hong Kong Island, further work to improve the water supply in the Pok Fu Lam area began. Work to improve the salt water flushing system for the Mid-Levels district was completed.
Detailed studies and examinations were continued to ensure the safety of reservoirs. Remedial works were completed at some of the older dams and initiated at others.
It became apparent during the last half of 1976 that the extensive and accelerated development programme for new towns and market towns in the New Territories, coupled with urban expansion and water resources development schemes, would impose a commitment beyond the capacity of existing staff resources. To meet these commitments, considerable expansion and reorganisation took place.
After a series of system tests, the computer package for water billing and related procedures was adopted for billing trade accounts involving some 74,000 consumers. In July, the first computer bills were issued to trade consumers. Conversion of basic data for domestic, construction and other supplies was scheduled to begin as soon as all trade accounts had been successfully computerised. Steps have been taken to im- prove consumer services following the appointment of a customer relations officer to take charge of a Complaints and Inquiries Section in the Waterworks Office.
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 Limited while Kowloon and the New Territories - including Lantau and a number of outlying islands - receive supplies from the China Light and Power Company Limited. The island of Cheung