XN000022-1973-12-15 — Page 3

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NJ

Saturday, December 15, 1973

P.W.D. INSTITUTES FURTHER MEASURES TO SAVE FUEL

The giant incinerators at Lai Chi Kok and Kennedy Town have

been mobilised to play their part in Hong Kong's fuel saving drive by

making the maximum use of their own "body heat" as a source of power.

A spokesman for the Public Works Department explained today that fuel economy is a built-in concept in the design and functioning of

the incinerators.

"In a recycling process, the steam produced from incineration

is fed into a turbine to produce electricity. But if a turbine has to

be closed down, such as for overhaul, then the plants have to use electricity

supplied by the power companies."

However, the Electrical and Mechanical Office, which runs the

incinerators, is now intensifying its efforts to reduce to an absolute minimum the number of occasions when "outside" electricity is used.

At Lai Chi Kok, in particular, the water cooling system is to

be improved to obviate the need to close down the turbine at certain times.

Another fuel-saving measure taken by the office is to reduce

the standby boiler capacity at some public institutions, including hospitals.

"However, for obvious reasons, "the spokesman said, "this sort

of economy must be finely calculated, particularly at hospitals, because the welfare of patients cannot be jeopardised. But whero ve are satisfied

that the standby resources allow some safe extra leeway for economy,

are shutting off part of the plant.

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