ELECTRICITY IN HONGKONG.
Visitors to Hongkong have often dubbed it "The Riviera of the East". In giving it such a happy name, they have been influenced chiefly by the blaze of glittering lights on the hillsides of the island and the brilliant illuminations on the foreshores.
When one looks at the island on a clear night, it is difficult to imagine that sixty years ago, there were none of the bright lights that make it such a show spot in these days.
For twenty years after the Colony was founded, oil lamps and candles were the only means of illumination. Then in 1860 a movement was set on foot to light the city with gas,
(see 28-11-33) A company was formed in London and great resentment was aroused over the small number of shares allotted to Hongkong residents.
The Colonial Secretary (Mr. W. T. Mercer) smoothed over the difficulties temporarily and the city was for the first time lighted by gas on November 12, 1864.
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By the mid-eighties the value of the inventions of a young man named Edison were fully impressed on the minds of the people of Hongkong.
The idea of providing electrical facilities here was first seized upon by the China and Japan Telephone Company. According to old files, this company in 1887, introduced a novelty to the Colony in the shape of electric motors for driving sewing machines, with a fan combined for the warm weather.
The company was also prepared to supply electric lamps for desk use.
But the first serious attempt to provide the colony with electric light was made in 1888, when the prospectus of the Hongkong Electric Company Ltd., was issued. On May 28 in the following year, the first statutory general meeting of the company was held. It was stated at this meeting that all the necessary capital had been subscribed and the machinery ordered.
Mr. Wickham was appointed the first general manager. He came from the firm of Messrs. Johnson and Phillips, the English contractors responsible for the installation of the machinery and in an interview granted a few months after his arrival, gave some interesting information about the plant and equipment. The company started with three Kapp alternating dynamos, each capable of supplying 850 lights of the 16 candle power. Two of the dynamos were to be kept in constant use and one in reserve in case of a breakdown.
One of the advantages of electric light, Mr. Wickham pointed out was that the wires were protection against burglars! The shock of touching one, he said, would not kill a man, but it would be sufficient to paralyse him.
The Government placed an order for 50 arc lights on the Brocker-Pell principle. These were to be used in lighting the Praya and Queen's Road. The lights were put on poles, 150 yards apart, and it was claimed that by their light people could see where they were going.
From the beginning alternating current was used for house lighting.
The first ordinary meeting of shareholders was held in May, 1890. Mr. H. L. Dalrymple presided and others present...