XN000022-1978-10-14 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1978

GOVERNOR INAUGURATES NEW TAP MUN POWER SCHEME

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY PRAISED THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY FOR ITS OUTSTANDING RECORD IN BRINGING ELECTRICITY TO THE RURAL AREAS.

THE RESULT IS THAT MOST VILLAGES - HOWEVER SMALL OR REMOTE NOW HAVE A POWER SUPPLY, SIR MURRAY SAID.

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SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE INAUGURATION OF THE POWER COMPANY'S NEWEST POWER SCHEME AT TAP MUN, SIR MURRAY SAID +THIS IS A REMARKABLE ACT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, SINCE THERE IS LITTLE OR NO ECONOMIC RETURN TO THE COMPANY FROM MANY OF ITS RURAL ELECTRIFICATION SCHEMES.+

THE $1.4 MILLION SCHEME WILL SERVE FIVE VILLAGES IN SAI KUNG NORTH AND ON TAP MUN, THE REMOTE ISLAND OFF THE NORTH-EAST OF SAI KUNG PENINSULA WHICH IS THE HOME BASE FOR THE MIRS BAY FISHING FLEET.

SIR MURRAY SAID VILLAGE LIGHTING IS A COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMME, PART OF GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF MAKING GOOD DEFICIENCIES IN RURAL AREAS,

+THIS, TOO, IS A SCHEME THAT RELIES UPON THE CO-OPERATION AND GOODWILL OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY.+

MOST OF THE ISLAND'S POPULATION OF 2,500 TURNED OUT TODAY TO SEE SIR MURRAY OFFICIALLY +SWITCH-ON+ THE COMPANY'S LATEST RURAL ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME WHICH WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE ARMY, THE AIR FORCE AND THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE IN BRINGING IN MORE THAN 130 TONS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY TO 175 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN 284 HELICOPTER FLIGHTS.

+THESE FIGURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, SIR MURRAY SAID.

THE GOVERNOR PAID TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED, HE SAID: +IT WAS LESS THAN 18 MONTHS AGO THAT THIS WAS FIRST DISCUSSED, AND IT IS A TRIBUTE TO THE GOODWILL, FINE PLANNING AND THE ABILITY OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY.+

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, SIR LAWRENCE KADOOR IE, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE OPENING, SAID THE CEREMONY MARKED ANOTHER MILESTONE IN CHINA LIGHT'S RURAL ÉLECTRIFICATION SCHEME, WHICH HAD AS ITS OBJECTIVE THE PROVISION OF ELECTRICITY TO

ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SCHEME IN 1961, SOME 650 VILLAGES, REPRESENTING 47,000 FAMILIES HAVE RECEIVED SUPPLY, HE SAID.

/SIR LAWRENCE