WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1978
GO AHEAD FOR LAMMA ISLAND POWER STATION GIVEN
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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN APPLICATION FROM THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY TO CONSTRUCT A POWER STATION AT PO LO TSUI ON LAMMA ISLAND.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EXTRA GENERATING PLANT IS ESSENTIAL TO COPE WITH THE RAPIDLY INCREASING DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY ON HONG KONG ISLAND. THIS IS EXPECTED TO GROW AT AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT NINE PER CENT EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE EXTRA CAPACITY IS VITAL, IF THE COMPANY IS TO MEET THE EXPECTED REQUIREMENT FOR POWER AND TO MAINTAIN PRUDENT RESERVE CAPACITY TO MEET EMERGENCIES (E.G. THE FAILURE OF A GENERATOR) AND NORMAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.
RESERVE CAPACITY IS LIKELY TO AVERAGE 35 PER CENT, THOUGH IT WILL BE HIGHER FOR A TIME AFTER THE COMMISSIONING OF A NEW GENERATING SET, AND LOWER JUST BEFORE THE COMMISSIONING OF THE NEXT SET.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD EXAMINED WITH GREAT CARE A NUMBER OF OTHER POSSIBLE SITES FOR THE PLANT AND HAD CONCLUDED THAT LAMMA ISLAND WAS THE MOST SUITABLE, BEARING IN MIND THE FACT THAT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND IS ALREADY ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.
ONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES CONSIDERED HAD BEEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL PLANT AT AP LEI CHAU, ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING POWER STATION, BUT THIS HAD BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE THE DEGREE OF POLLUTION TO WHICH THE INHABITANTS OF THE AREA WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED TOLERABLE LIMITS.
THE NEW RECLAMATION AT AP LEI CHAU WAS ELIMINATED, BECAUSE THE AREA IS NEEDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LIGHT INDUSTRY, WHICH WILL GIVE EMPLOYMENT TO RESIDENTS OF HOUSING ESTATES TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE ISLAND.
TAI TAM HAD BEEN CONSIDERED, BUT REJECTED BECAUSE THE AREA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A COUNTRY PARK.
THE POSSIBILITY HAD ALSO BEEN EXAMINED OF CONCENTRATING ALL GENERATING EQUIPMENT AT TAP SHEK KOK, WHERE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY ARE TO BUILD A POWER PLANT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT OBJECTIONS TO THIS PROPOSAL. IN PARTICULAR, THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND HAVE CAUSED INCONVENIENCE, PARTICULARLY THE SECTION THROUGH CENTRAL AND KENNEDY TOWN.
A SINGLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY WOULD, MOREOVER, BE VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENT OR OTHER INTERFERENCE.
IN ADDITION,