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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1982
BUSY DAY FOR PRIME MINISTER
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PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER WOUND UP HER VISIT TO HONG KONG TODAY BY OFFICIALLY OPENING A POWER STATION AN ENGAGEMENT SHE SAID WAS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE BECAUSE HONG KONG ITSELF WAS A UNIQUE MODEL OF ENERGY.
THE PRIME MINISTER MADE THE REMARK AT THE OPENING OF THE CASTLE PEAK 'A' POWER STATION AT TUEN MUN.
CASTLE PEAK 'A' WITH THE SECOND PHASE NOW BEING BUILT - CASTLE PEAK 'B' - WILL ULTIMATELY FORM THE LARGEST POWER STATION COMPLEX IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, WITH A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 4 000 MEGAWATTS.
MRS THATCHER INSPECTED SECTIONS OF THE POWER STATION, WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT WITH BRITISH EQUIPMENT.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LORD KADOOR IE, CHAIRMAN OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, AND OTHER COMPANY OFFICIALS, MRS THATCHER WENT FIRST TO THE CONTROL ROOM, WHERE SHE WAS BRIEFED ON THE STATION'S OPERATION AND INSPECTED A MODEL OF THE COMPLEX.
THE PRIME MINISTER THEN INSPECTED THE GIANT TURBINE ROOM, THE BOILER ROOM AND THE COAL CRUSHING PLANT, WHERE FUEL IS PULVERISED BEFORE BEING USED TO FIRE THE BOILERS.
WELCOMING MRS THATCHER TO THE STATION, LORD KADOORIE SAID THE COMPLEX WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND BRITISH INDUSTRY.
LORD KADOOR IE NOTED THAT THE LOAN FOR 918 MILLION POUNDS STERLING TO BUILD CASTLE PEAK 'B', SIGNED IN LONDON LAST SEPTEMBER, WAS THE BIGGEST FACILITY EVER GUARANTEED BY BRITAIN'S EXPORT CREDIT GUARANTEE DEPARTMENT.
CASTLE PEAK 'A' HAS FOUR 350 MEGAWATT GENERATORS, PRODUCING A TOTAL OF 1 400 MEGAWATTS. THE FIRST UNIT BEGAN PRODUCING POWER LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AFTER WORK BEGAN ON THE SITE.
CASTLE PEAK 'B' WILL HAVE FOUR 660 MEGAWATT GENERATORS, PRODUCING A TOTAL OF 2 640 MEGAWATTS. THE MAIN FUEL FOR BOTH SECTIONS OF THE PLANT IS COAL, BUT BOTH STATIONS ALSO RETAIN THE ABILITY TO USE OIL AS FUEL.
/AFTER LUNCH