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DRAFT SPEECH BY LORD KADOORIE AT CASTLE PEAK
1.
Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Ladies and
Gentlemen. The event which brings together such a
distinguished gathering is one with significance far
beyond the completion of two major engineering projects.
It represents international co-operation and co-ordination
at its best.
2.
Co-operation between CL&P and their American
associates, EXXON, co-operation between HMG and private
enterprise, co-operation with our bankers, co-operation
between contractors of several nationalities, and last but
not least co-ordination of an excellent labour force under
the guidance and drive of Mr. W.F. Stones and his able team
of Project Engineers, have created this major undertaking,
the implications of which are likely to be felt in East/West
relations well into the next century.
3.
It
For Hong Kong it is a promise fulfilled.
is with pride that CL&P can look back to a forecast made
some six years ago, that the demand for electricity would
call for the commissioning of 350MW of new plant in 1982. Our forecast of demand has been on target and so is our provision of the generating capacity to meet it.
4.
Time does not permit of a dissertation on the
many problems which have had to be overcome during site
formation and construction.
However, massive understatement
allows me to express my appreciation and thanks to all concerned without which it would have been impossible to cast mountains into the sea and produce 350MW of power, with its associated EHV Transmission Network, within budget, and within a period of three years, eight months and twelve days
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a record rarely, if ever, surpassed.
5.
It cannot be over emphasised that so much of
the impetus for the British participation in this Castle
Peak Power Station and the EHV Network Project came directly
from Number 10, Downing Street.
6.
Very real benefits have flowed from the British
Government's and British Industry's imaginative and
enthusiastic response to our needs.
7.
The contribution of Esso Eastern to this and our
other Power Generating Projects should not be underestimated.
Since 1964, Esso has been the majority shareholder in the
joint venture power generating companies with CL&P and I am happy to say that the same partnership arrangements continue today with the opening of this Station.
8.
The scale of Esso's investment in Hong Kong is
a powerful demonstration of confidence, matched by their
unequalled experience in the field of energy, which has been freely available to us at every stage of planning and
management.
9.
A major contribution to the success of this project is of course made by staff at all levels in our own
company.
10.
It would be difficult to commend by name all the suppliers and contractors who have been involved in the two projects but, on this occasion, I could hardly fail to recognise the part played by GEC Turbine Generators and Babcock Power Ltd. in the construction of Castle Peak "A" Power Station, and that of BICC and Balfour Beatty in respect of the EHV Network.
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11.
I have already referred to the importance of
the financial arrangements, which were part of the total
package initiated by the British Government. These have
been widely recognised as remarkable not only for their size - they involved the biggest loan ever guaranteed by the ECGD
but for the speed with which the arrangements were concluded. The agreements for both the Power Station and the EHV Network were put together by J. Henry Schroder Wagg of London and Schroders & Chartered of Hong Kong.
12.
It is my privilege, Prime Minister, to express
to you on behalf of us all, our sincere thanks for the interest and encouragement you have shown in this project.
13.
It is therefore with a great sense of the fitness of the occasion that I ask you, Prime Minister, to unveil these plaques to mark this formal opening of the Castle Peak "A"
Power Station and the EHV Network.
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