UK CONFIDENTIAL
32. Domestic radio broadcast services are provided by the government operated "Radio Hong Kong" on medium wave and VHF/FM and the commercially-operated "Commercial Radio Hong Kong" on medium wave. Languages used are Chinese and English. The British Forces Broadcasting Service operate a low-power broadcast service on medium wave and VHF/FM for the benefit of resident British Forces personnel. Domestic television broadcasts are provided by three commercially- operated stations using 625 lines and the PAL colour system. Two of the stations each transmit on two simultaneous channels of English and Chinese. The third station transmits a single channel in Chinese only.
Oil Storage and Distribution
33. There are no crude oil deposits on Hong Kong and all refined oils are imported. There is a considerable bunkering trade which re-exports over 600 000 tonnes per year.
Communist China supplies over 30 000 tonnes of refined pro- ducts annually and this would increase if greater storage capacity were to be made available. Proposals have been made that China should build tanks at Sha Tin (D3), and on Tsing Yi island (D3). Esso Standard Oil Company are plan- ning a large storage facility on one of the islands in Hong Kong. Proposals for the construction of a refinery have not yet matured.
34. Bulk storage facilities on Hong Kong and the islands are estimated to be about 640 000 tonnes. Distribution is by road tanker, barge and ferry.
Water Supplies
35. Demand for fresh water in Hong Kong in mid 1976 was about 954 million litres a day. Most of the fresh water is held in seventeen catchment storage reservoirs, located on Hong Kong Island and the New Territories, the largest at Plover Cove (E4) and on Lantau Island (C3). It is supplemented by supplies brought by pipeline from China, and, more recently, by the output of a large new sophisticated desalination plant at Lok on Pai, about 5 km southeast of Castle Peak (C4).
37 M
36. Storage Capacity. The daily yield from reservoirs depends on seasonal rainfall, 85% of which occurs between April and September. Total storage capacity in mid 1976 was about 306 million (litres) This will increase by a further 273 million litres when a new High Island (F3) water scheme, completed in 1976 and now impounding, produces its full field in 1979.
37. Supply from China. In 1977 Hong Kong received about 125 million cubic metres of water from China. Water is transmitted from China by gravity flow pipeline from the Shum Chun reservoir (D5) on the Shum Chun river which in turn is fed by pumping from the large perennial Tien Shan (East) river in Kwangtung.
38. Desalination. A new six unit multi-stage flash evaporator desalter at Lok on Pai (near Castle Peak (C3)) capable of producing 182 million cubic metres of water daily was completed in 1977. The new plant is the largest of its kind in the world.
39. Summary. Severe shortages in water supply have been experienced despite almost continuous expansion of the water supply system. At present, and in the immediate future, water from China is necessary to ensure full supplies to the Colony. Supply would be crucial in years of local drought. The Colony's water
8
UK CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.