LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
LPG is imported into Hong Kong by sea. About 62 per cent of total sales is distributed to customers, via dealer networks, in portable cylinders. The rest is dis- tributed through piped gas systems from bulk LPG storage and vaporiser installations which are in, or near, the developments being supplied.
About 522 LPG distributors operate within the territory. Additionally, 23 LPG site operators manage 520 bulk storage installations under government-monitored arrangements. Altogether, there are 850 000 LPG customers.
Since 1982, the government has encouraged the installation of a piped gas supply in new buildings, to discourage growth in the use of gas cylinders in domestic dwellings. It also began a programme of encouraging the upgrading of sub-standard gas water heaters. The percentage of domestic dwellings now using cylinders fell to less than 32 per cent in 1995; and the number of upgraded gas water heaters amounts to some 79 500. Apart from suicide cases there were two fatalities arising from fuel gas incidents during 1995.
As further means of safeguarding the general public and gas consumers, the Gas Safety Ordinance was introduced on April 1, 1991. This ordinance and its subsidiary regulations constitute a comprehensive package of safety legislation covering all aspects of fuel gas importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply and use of gas. The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services was appointed as the Gas Authority and the Gas Safety Advisory Committee was established for the purpose of advising the authority upon all relevant matters. Since April 1, 1992, all gas supply companies, gas installers and contractors must be registered with Gas Authority in order to carry out their operations. In 1995, eight gas supply companies, 3 282 gas installers and 403 gas contractors were registered under the scheme.
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