PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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on a long-term basis. Savings are expected to be achieved in fuel costs through more efficient utilisation of the existing generating plant and through a deferment in the requirements for new plant. The interconnection should also alleviate the effects of a power failure in one of the systems.
In April, owing to a threatened fuel oil shortage, the government decided to implement oil conservation measures. The Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance 1979 conferred upon the Governor in Council and the Director of Oil Supplies powers to give directions to suppliers and dealers as to the storage, supply, use and disposal of oil and to give similar directions to electricity and gas companies. The Director of Trade Industry and Customs was appointed Director of Oil Supplies.
The package of measures introduced in May included a ban on the use of electric lighting for advertising, display and floodlighting purposes except between the hours of 8 pm and 11.30 pm; the adoption of daylight saving time (GMT+9); a reduction in the spinning reserve of the power companies; urging the public specifically to set air-conditioning thermostats at no lower than 26° Celsius; and generally to save electricity. The measures were designed to achieve the greatest savings with the least possible disruption to basic daily living and industrial activities.
In October, partly because of an easing in the oil supply situation, the restrictions on the use of electricity for advertising, floodlighting and display purposes were lifted. The public continued to be exhorted, however, to achieve voluntary savings. Standard time (GMT+8) was reverted to on October 21.
Despite the government's energy conservation measures and the increased cost of fuel, the demand for electricity continued to grow during the year. This reflected Hong Kong's continuing development as a manufacturing centre and the general improvement in the standard of living of the population. Main electricity statistics for 1979 as well as electricity sales figures for 1977 to 1979 are shown in Appendix 34.
In order to cater for the rising demand, two new power stations are being constructed. Hongkong Electric's Lamma Island power station will initially house two 250 MW generating sets while KESCO's power station at Tap Shek Kok, Castle Peak, will initially house two 350 MW units. The first sets at both stations are expected to be commissioned in 1982. A significant feature about these projects is that the generators will be capable of being fired by either oil or coal. Both power companies intend to use coal to fire their new generators. Given the instability of the world oil supply situation and the greatly increased cost of oil (which was reflected in the increased price of electricity in 1979), this is a welcome development because it will lessen Hong Kong's dependence on oil and help to keep down costs for consumers.
In March, 1979, an agreement for the supply of electricity by China Light to the Guangdong Electric Company in China was signed. From April 1, 1979, approximately 50 MVA of electricity – the equivalent of one million units - a day was supplied to the Guangdong Electric Company. The connection with Guangdong comprises 11 kilometres of 66 kV overhead line between China Light's substation at Fanling and that of the Guangdong Electric Company at Shum Chun in China.
Gas
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited supplies Towngas to the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.
Towngas is available throughout the island with the exception of the Shek O peninsula. The area of supply extends to Chai Wan in the east and to Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau, Repulse