6
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 1st October 1971.
[MR PRESIDENT]
supply of water from China, which represents about 24 per cent of annual consumption.
The development of new industrial townships, particularly in northeast Kowloon and at Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung has continued apace and in as well-balanced a manner as could reasonably be expected, given the practical difficulties of keeping the provision of the various services needed precisely in step.
But our growth generally has also required a corresponding expan- sion by the privately owned public utilities. Since 1963 electrical generating capacity, for example, has tripled from 528 to 1,565 mega- watts, while telephone services have quadrupled from 131,000 to 525,000 lines, and these are all achievements which reflect great credit on the companies concerned.
Again, in support of that most necessary physical infrastructure of which I spoke, we have greatly improved the handling of produce, freight and refuse. Two large mechanized abattoirs and a new whole- sale vegetable market have replaced out-of-date facilities. Much of our refuse is now burnt in two giant incinerators, and more are planned. Double deck vehicular ferries have been introduced on cross-harbour services, and the cross-harbour tunnel is well on its way towards completion. It is only nine years since the new Kai Tak Airport was opened; already the runways is being extended and the capacity of the terminal building increased. An entirely new air cargo terminal is also to be built. The western harbour has been extended and moorings provided for some 20 additional ocean-going ships; and the fine new Ocean Terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui has been followed by the provision of container facilities at several wharves. Work is now progressing on a major three berth container terminal at Kwai Chung. Major improvements have started on the roads linking the main industrial areas with Kai Tak Airport and the new Kwai Chung container terminal; indeed, of the many physical changes of the past few years it is perhaps the new roads and the fly-overs which most immediately strike the eye.
But of all the changes we have witnessed over the years, the rising standard of living of ordinary people has been perhaps the most signifi- cant. This is a hard-working, skilful and adaptable community, and it is most certainly only right that all should share in the rewards of our prosperity. This our flexible economic system has been able to achieve.
A few figures easily illustrate what has happened. Our industrial working force has grown over the past seven years from 350,000 to
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