XN000022-1976-06-06 — Page 1

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|香港政府| GIS新聞處

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 1976

SQUATTER ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME

FIRST VILLAGE TO BE SWITCHED ON

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THE SWITCHING ON OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO THE FIRST OF SIX VILLAGES ON THE KOWLOON FOOTHILLS IN THE PILOT PROJECT TO PROVIDE LEGAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO SQUATTER AREAS, WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 11.

AT 3.30 P.M. THAT DAY, SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO. LTD., WILL START THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY TO UPPER LION ROCK VILLAGE WHERE SOME 500 PEOPLE LIVE.

A BRIEF CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE VILLAGE'S MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE OFFICE. ATTENDING WILL BE OFFICIALS FROM THE COMPANY AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT 'DEPARTMENTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

THIS IS THE FIRST RESULT OF THE EFFORTS OF THE WORKING PARTY ON ELECTRIFICATION OF SQUATTER AREAS. THE COMMITTEE WAS SET UP 'LAST NOVEMBER BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING TO OVERCOME PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF SUPPLYING ELECTRICITY TO ALL STRUCTURES IN SQUATTER AREAS, SOMETHING WHICH HAD BEEN ATTEMPTED PREVIOUSLY BUT WITHOUT RESULTS.

THE COMMITTEE, COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANY, CHOSE, FOR THE PILOT SCHEME, THE VILLAGES OF MA CHAI HANG, YAN OI, YAN YEE, TAI YUEN AND UPPER AND LOWER LION ROCK WHERE, IN TOTAL, AN ESTIMATED 8,500 PEOPLE OR 1,700 FAMILIES LIVE IN.

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THE VILLAGERS AT PRESENT OBTAIN ELECTRICITY EITHER THROUGH PRIVATE GENERATORS OR ILLEGALLY TAPPING OFF PUBLIC LIGHTING. THIS SITUATION, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, NOT ONLY TO THE GOVERNMENT, BUT TO THE PEOPLE THERE AS WELL, PARTICULARLY ON THE SAFETY ASPECT.

UNDER THE ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME, OVERHEAD LINES WILL BRING ELECTRICITY FROM POWER STATIONS AND FEED IT INTO METER ROOMS AND DISTRIBUTION PILLARS FROM WHERE VILLAGERS CAN HAVE THEIR MAINS CONNECTED.

CHINA LIGHT IS BEARING THE COST OF THE CAPITAL OUTLAY WHILE VILLAGERS HAVE TO PAY FOR WIRING THEIR HUTS TO TAKE THE ELECTRICITY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION PILLARS,

BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE PILOT AREA, THE PROJECT WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN STAGES OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AND THE OTHER VILLAGERS WILL BE SWITCHED ON IN TURN.

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

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