UK CONFIDENTIAL
plans are based on a system of rationing which would, it is hoped, provide the population with a daily four hour supply, allowing a 24 hour supply for industry, without using water from China. However, the Colony will remain dependent on water from China to sustain a full 24 hour supply to its growing population unless it embarks on a vast and costly expansion of its desalination programme.
Construction Resources
40. The few available natural resources include granite, volcanic and other hard rock, sand and clay. Most engineering raw materials such as timber, lime- stone, gypsum, ferrous and non-ferrous metals are imported. All construction materials industries of any significance are located on Hong Kong Island or in the Kowloon (D/E3) area. Some iron ore is mined. A number of small to medium size rolling mills produce small diameter round bars for application in rein- forcing concrete. Total production is about 250 000 tons. Oxygen, acetylene and most other common industrial gases are manufactured. Town gas is available.
41. The Public Works Department (PWD) and large construction firms operate plant but the abundance of comparatively cheap labour tends to inhibit the use of more sophisticated and expensive equipment. Plant is specially imported for large development, and adequate numbers of load carrying vehicles including tippers and other types of special construction vehicles are available. There are excellent facilities for major mechanical and electrical repairs to most types of plant, machimery and vehicles. PWD workshops are established on Hong Kong Island, at Kowloon and, for vehicle servicing only, on Lantau island (C3). Most commercial workshops are established in Hong Kong and Kowloon where there are also shipyards and marine workshops. There are local agents for several well known makes of plant. Most spares could be manufactured locally.
42. Cement is manufactured by the Green Island Cement Company at Kowloon. Output, about 250 000 tons a year does not meet local demand and a fair amount of cement is imported. All raw materials except clay, which is dredged from Kowloon Bay, are obtained from abroad. Precast concrete blocks, beams, slabs and other single building components, as well as gypsum plaster are manufactured. There is a commercial ready mixed concrete plant.
Mectric Power Supplies
43. The supply of electricity in Hong Kong is derived from thermal power stations, forming part of two separate supply systems operated by two power companies:
a.
The China Light and Power Company Ltd (CLPC) is responsible for the generation and supply of electricity in Kowloon (D/E3) and the New Terri- tories, including Lantau and a number of outlying islands.
b. The Hong Kong Electric Company Ltd (HKEC) supplies the main island of Hong Kong and the associated Ap Lei Chau (D2) and Lamma Islands (D2).
44. The island of Cheung Chau (C2) is served by the Cheung Chau Electric Company. Minor enterprises such as village cooperatives, produce current for certain remote localities.
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UK CONFIDENTIAL
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