XN000022-1978-10-14 — Page 3

2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1978

SIR LAWRENCE SAID FEW PEOPLE REALISED THE PLANNING, EFFORT AND HARD WORK PUT IN BY SO MANY WHICH PRECEDED THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.

HE THANKED THE TAI PO AND SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICES, THE ARMY, THE AIR FORCE, THE ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND ALL CONCERNED FOR THE READY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO MAKE THE SCHEME A REALITY.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT TODAY'S +SWITCHING-ON+ CEREMONY OF THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME AT TAP MUN:-

+ IT WAS LESS THAN EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO THAT THIS SCHEME 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.

+ IT IS IMPOSSIBLE ON THESE OCCASIONS TO PAY DUE TRIBUTE TO ALL BUT I MUST SINGLE OUT THOSE INVOLVED IN THE LOGISTICS OF THIS OPERATION. THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE ARMY, THE AIR FORCE AND THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE BROUGHT IN MORE THAN 130 TONS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY TO 175 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN 284 HELICOPTER FLIGHTS. THESE FIGURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

+THE POWER COMPANY HAS AN OUTSTANDING RECORD IN BRINGING ELECTRICITY TO THE RURAL AREAS, AND MOST VILLAGES HOWEVER SMALL OR REMOTE NOW HAVE A SUPPLY. 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. 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.

+ IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE NOW TO DECLARE THIS SCHEME OPEN, AND TO SWITCH ON THE SUPPLY.+

13