288 The Environment
Energy
Gas
Town gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are the main types of fuel gas used in Hong Kong for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes. LPG is also used as a fuel by some taxis and light buses while natural gas is used for electricity generation and production of town gas.
Hong Kong has about 2.3 million gas customers in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors, of which town gas and LPG respectively accounted for 84.3 and 15.7 per cent of the total fuel gas sold in these sectors.
Town gas is manufactured at plants in Tai Po and Ma Tau Kok, which have daily. throughput capacities of 9.66 and 2.6 million cubic metres respectively. There is a piping network of some 3 400 kilometres supplying town gas to about 1.7 million
customers.
LPG is imported into Hong Kong by sea and stored at five terminals on Tsing Yi Island before being distributed to approximately 641 000 customers and 59 LPG filling stations.
Natural gas is imported from the Mainland via submarine pipelines to the Black Point, Castle Peak and Lamma Power Stations for electricity generation and to Tai Po plant for production of town gas.
On August 28, 2008, the HKSAR Government and the National Energy Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the enhanced supply of natural gas to Hong Kong, among other things, in the coming two decades. Since signing the MoU, the Government and the energy enterprises on both sides have followed up on its implementation. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong spur line of the Second West-East Natural Gas Pipeline and the liquefied natural gas. terminal in Shenzhen to be jointly constructed by energy enterprises of both sides. are anticipated to be completed in 2013. Hong Kong can benefit from improved air quality by increasing the use of clean energy and reducing the emission of power plants.
The Gas Safety Ordinance regulates the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply and use of fuel gas. All gas supply companies, gas installers and contractors must be registered with the Gas Authority (the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services).
Electricity
The Hongkong Electric Company Limited (HEC) supplies electricity to Hong Kong Island and the neighbouring islands of Ap Lei Chau and Lamma, while CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) supplies Kowloon and the New Territories, including Lantau and several other outlying islands. The electricity supply to consumers is 50 hertz alternating current while the voltage is 220 volts single-phase and 380 volts three-phase.
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